Source: FOOTYMAD
Parkinson: 'I was confident that we had the ability to beat this team'
Bradford City manager Phil Parkinson has a remarkable winning record at Roots Hall and he continued it Friday evening when his team beat Southend United 1-0 in their League Two clash. Parkinson: 'If they had won, they'd have gone back top' Bantams boss Phil Parkinson reckons his side's 88th minute victory at second-placed Southend has put the rest of the division on notice, we're on our way up the table. Luke Oliver’s scrambled goal earned City their first away win of the season and moved them six points clear of the dreaded bottom two before this afternoon's fixtures. Parkinson told www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk: "I thought the match was very similar to the one at Gillingham. A game we dominated but couldn't quite get the goal our efforts deserved. Tonight (Friday) we have played exceptionally well, extremely professional, and we've got that all important goal this time. It's fantastic to win away from home, it's a great boost for every one in the football club, but the way we have been playing on our travels recently, not just tonight, has been excellent. I am really pleased for the lads. It was a committed performance that was full of concentration for the whole game. Every player has done the job that was asked of them tonight and we got our rewards." They did indeed, and the former head farmer had planned it all in advance. Parkinson said: "Me and Steve (Parkin) saw Southend play on Tuesday, they are a good side, but I said to the lads before the game tonight that we would win if they did their jobs. We listed the key areas of the game - the key points of our performance that we needed to get right - and we said to the players that if we do well in these key areas, we'll win the game. I was confident of that. I was confident that we had the ability to beat this team. I said to the lads after the game that I had really meant that. I didn't say that to build them up and then secretly feel not so sure inside, I genuinely felt we could beat Southend tonight if we did our jobs for the whole match, and we did. If they had won tonight, they'd have gone back top, so that shows how good a result this is for our lads. We've come here on a Friday night, with people up and down the country looking to see how Bradford would cope tonight, but we have coped with it very well. We were a strong and disciplined side tonight with quality going forward at times." Oh well, it can't get worse, can it? The S24 Report: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk A local view: www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk Discuss the game: http://boards.footymad.net/ See what the locals are saying: www.claretandbanter.com/ Bilel vote continues: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk S24 is looking to build up it's editorial team, why not join us at the Shrimpers fastest growing unofficial site with up to and over 2,000 hits a day currently this month? If you have something to say on the present exciting times at Southend United or an idea for a new poll, then click on the link with your article or contact details and we will get in touch, just a few lines will do: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk