The Coaching System-Chapter 120: League One Matches & Rotation Challenges

January 1 – League One Matchday 22 (A) – A Strong Start to the Year

The turn of the new year brought no signs of complacency from Bradford City.

They had been ruthless throughout the first half of the season, storming to the top of the League One table, and Jake had no intention of letting standards slip.

The EFL Cup Semi-Final First Leg loomed on the horizon, but before that, they had business to handle in the league.

Away to Exeter City.

Jake had made one thing clear before kickoff:

"We handle this first. No thinking about Newcastle. No saving legs for later. We win tonight, and we keep the momentum rolling."

There was no room for rotations—not yet.

Silva and Barnes were both in the lineup, still available before their nightmare at St. James’ Park.

However, Jake did make two key changes.

Walsh was handed a start in midfield, given the chance to dictate play from deep. Castellon came in up front, offering fresh legs in attack alongside Novak.

And from the opening whistle, Bradford took full control.

First Half – Bradford in Total Control

Exeter City never stood a chance.

From the first minute, Bradford suffocated them with relentless pressing.

Vélez controlled the tempo, dictating every attacking move. Mensah terrorized Exeter’s right-back, beating him for pace every single time. Novak and Castellon stretched the defense, constantly pulling the center-backs out of position.

And then there was Walsh.

The young midfielder, given a rare start, seized his opportunity brilliantly.

12th Minute –

The first goal came from a perfect attacking sequence.

Ibáñez, stepping high from left-back, won possession and quickly shifted the ball to Vélez.

One glance. One perfectly weighted pass.

Walsh arrived late into the box, ghosting past his marker.

A composed first touch.

A powerful finish drilled low into the bottom corner.

Bradford were ahead—and they weren’t stopping.

27th Minute –

It was all too easy.

Silva, cutting inside from the left, spotted Novak making a run behind the defense.

A delicate chip over the top.

Novak let the ball bounce once before smashing a volley past the keeper.

Bradford were in cruise control.

Second Half – Exeter Falls Apart

Any hope of a comeback was extinguished immediately after halftime.

Bradford came out just as aggressive, refusing to drop their intensity.

And in the 51st minute, Walsh struck again.

51st Minute –

A corner kick routine straight from the training ground.

Vélez played it short to Mensah, who drove toward the box before laying it back to Walsh at the edge of the area.

One touch. One curling strike.

The net rippled.

His second of the game.

Jake clapped on the sideline. "That’s how you take your chances."

Exeter were beaten.

But Bradford weren’t done.

68th Minute –

The final goal of the night came from pure counterattacking football.

Exeter had pushed bodies forward, desperate for something, anything.

But when Vélez won the ball back, Bradford struck instantly.

A sharp, direct pass to Novak, who turned and threaded a perfect through ball into space.

Castellon, full sprint, racing past the last defender.

One-on-one with the keeper.

A cool finish, slotted into the bottom corner.

Game over.

Full-Time – A Statement Victory

Bradford 4-0 winners.

Jake walked off the pitch with one thought in his mind.

Momentum.

They had handled their business in the league.

Now, it was time to focus on Newcastle.

The real test was coming.

And they had no idea what was waiting for them at St. James’ Park.

January 7 – League One Matchday 23 (H) – Another Win, Another Step Forward

The defeat to Newcastle had been brutal.

Not just the result—but the aftermath.

Silva and Barnes were suspended, serving the first of their three-match ban. Two key players, yes—but Bradford weren’t built on just two names.

Jake didn’t panic. This wasn’t a crisis.

Bradford had depth.

Players like Ibáñez, Taylor, and Lowe had been waiting for their moment—and now it had arrived.

Jake rotated the squad, not because he had to, but because it made sense. After a draining cup match where they had played down a man for over 70 minutes, fresh legs were needed.

A new challenge, but not a test. Just another game to win.

First Half – A Nervy Start, But Control Soon Followed

From kickoff, Bradford were measured, not reckless.

The absence of Silva and Barnes meant a few minor tactical tweaks—Ibáñez played deeper in midfield, Taylor provided extra protection at the back, and the attack was led by Costa and Richter.

For the opening 10 minutes, the game was scrappy. The opposition pressed aggressively, trying to capitalize on the supposed "weakness" of Bradford missing two key players.

But this team wasn’t just about individuals.

Vélez dictated the tempo, controlling possession, ensuring no panic set in.

Mensah stretched the right flank, forcing the opposition full-back deeper and deeper.

And then, Bradford settled.

And when they settled, they dominated.

21st Minute –

A patient build-up from the back saw Vélez switch play to the right, where Mensah had isolated his defender.

A quick burst of pace. A sharp cut inside.

He didn’t cross. Instead, he spotted Costa making a diagonal run.

A perfect pass. Costa took it in stride, one touch to set, the next to fire low past the keeper.

A goal to settle any nerves.

Bradford were in control.

Second Half – Business as Usual

Jake didn’t change much at halftime.

Why would he?

Bradford were comfortable, controlling possession, limiting the opposition to hopeful long balls.

But one goal was never enough.

Richter ensured that.

61st Minute –

Ibáñez, playing deeper in midfield, broke up an attack and immediately transitioned forward.

A quick pass to Vélez, who spotted Richter making a run between the center-backs.

A precise through ball, perfectly weighted.

Richter didn’t hesitate.

One touch—then a ruthless finish, hammered into the bottom corner.

2-0. Game over.

Full-Time – Another Win, Another Step Closer to the Title

The final whistle blew.

Bradford 2-0 winners.

Jake shook hands with the opposing manager, then turned toward his players. No wild celebrations, no overreactions.

Because this was expected.

No Silva. No Barnes. No problem.

The squad had stepped up, just as Jake knew they would.

There was no crisis. No struggles.

Just another three points.

And with every win, they edged closer to their ultimate goal—promotion.

January 11 – League One Matchday 24 (A) – Another Road Battle

Bradford’s relentless march toward the League One title continued.

With the EFL Cup semi-final second leg still weeks away and the FA Cup showdown with Manchester City looming, Jake had to be smart with his selections.

This was an away game—a tough, physical contest against a side eager to break Bradford’s dominance.

And so, Jake rotated heavily.

The lineup featured fresh faces, hungry to prove themselves.

Ethan Walsh returned to midfield, his energy and vision vital in keeping control. Leo Rasmussen got a start on the left wing, offering creativity and flair. Julián Rojas slotted into a deeper midfield role, tasked with shielding the defense. Noah Fletcher led the line alongside Novak, bringing a physical presence up top. Marco Bianchi was drafted into defense, keeping things solid at the back.

This wasn’t just a rotated squad—it was a statement.

Jake trusted every player in his squad, and this was their chance to prove why.

First Half – A Tactical Battle

The opposition saw the new-look Bradford lineup and smelled an opportunity.

From the opening whistle, they pressed aggressively, snapping into tackles, trying to force mistakes.

For the first 15 minutes, Bradford were on the back foot.

A few sloppy giveaways in midfield, a few nervous clearances at the back—but they never lost their shape.

Vélez and Rojas worked tirelessly in midfield, absorbing pressure and calming things down.

And then, when the moment came, Bradford struck.

28th Minute –

It started with a brilliant switch of play from Walsh, spreading the ball wide to Rasmussen.

The winger drove forward, cutting inside before threading a disguised pass into the box.

Fletcher, using his strength, rolled his marker and unleashed a low strike into the bottom corner.

A first-time finish. Clinical. Ruthless.

Bradford had weathered the early storm and now had full control.

Second Half – Managing the Game

Jake didn’t want chaos.

They had the lead. Now it was about control.

Bradford slowed the game down, using short, precise passing to keep the opposition chasing shadows.

Rojas was immense, breaking up attacks before they even started.

Simmons and Bianchi, despite being rotated in, looked composed at the back, dealing with every aerial threat.

The opposition grew frustrated.

Their early intensity faded.

They started leaving gaps.

And in the 78th minute, Bradford punished them again.

78th Minute –

It was pure counter-attacking football.

A loose pass in midfield was intercepted by Vélez, who immediately played it forward.

Walsh spotted the run of Rasmussen and delivered a perfect through ball.

One-on-one with the keeper, Rasmussen made no mistake, calmly slotting it home.

Game over.

Full-Time – Another Step Closer to the Title

Bradford 2-0 winners.

Another away trip. Another three points.

Jake walked off the pitch with a quiet satisfaction.

His team had learned how to grind out results in different ways.

With a rotated squad, away from home, under pressure—they delivered.

It wasn’t about individual names.

It was about the squad.

And this squad was built to win.

January 25 – League One Matchday 25 (H) – Silva & Barnes Return in Style

The moment Silva and Barnes walked back into the dressing room, the atmosphere shifted.

The squad had fought hard in their absence—three games, three wins, maximum points.

But now?

Now, it was time to make a statement.

Time to remind everyone why Bradford were at the top of the table.

Jake didn’t need to say much in the pre-match talk.

They knew.

Silva and Barnes, returning from suspension, were fired up.

Barnes was determined to prove he hadn’t lost his edge after the red card at Newcastle. Silva, always dangerous, had a look in his eye that told everyone he was ready to take over.

From the moment the whistle blew, Bradford tore into the opposition.

First Half – A Relentless Onslaught

The difference was immediate.

Bradford weren’t just winning battles—they were dominating every inch of the pitch.

Within the first five minutes, the visitors could barely string two passes together.

Every time they tried to play out from the back, Vélez and Ibáñez were there, pressing, cutting off passing lanes.

Every time they sat deep, trying to absorb pressure, Silva, Mensah, and Novak found gaps to exploit.

The first goal didn’t take long.

8th Minute –

A sharp passing sequence sliced through the opposition’s defense.

Ibáñez to Vélez. Vélez to Mensah. Mensah to Silva, cutting inside from the left.

A disguised pass into the box.

Novak, reading the play perfectly, made the run and smashed it into the roof of the net.

Bradford 1-0 up.

And they weren’t stopping.

14th Minute – GOAL! Bradford 2-0 (Silva)

Silva had come back with a point to prove.

And he delivered in style.

Picking up the ball on the left wing, he danced past one defender, then another.

A quick one-two with Vélez.

A cut inside onto his right foot—then a curling strike into the top corner.

Unstoppable.

The crowd erupted.

Bradford were running riot.

22nd Minute –

The opposition were already in damage control mode.

But that didn’t matter—Bradford found gaps everywhere.

Rasmussen drove down the right wing before whipping a cross into the area.

The defense half-cleared it, but the ball dropped to Mensah on the edge of the box.

One touch.

A thunderous volley.

The net bulged.

Bradford were 3-0 up inside 25 minutes.

Jake could barely keep up—his team were destroying them.

28th Minute –

Another break, another goal.

This time, it was Silva and Novak combining again.

Silva, full of confidence, weaved his way through defenders before slotting a pass across the face of goal.

Novak, in the right place at the right time, tapped it home.

Bradford were 4-0 up before half an hour had passed.

The away side looked shell-shocked.

Halftime – Total Control

As the players walked off the pitch, Jake barely said a word.

They already knew what needed to be done.

They had sent a message. Now, they had to finish the job.

Second Half – The Rout Continues

Bradford didn’t let up.

They came out just as aggressive, just as precise, refusing to step off the gas.

The visitors, already beaten, had no answers.

Bradford smelled blood.

49th Minute –

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A set-piece routine, straight from the training ground.

Vélez swung in a corner.

Ibáñez rose highest at the near post, glancing his header past the helpless goalkeeper.

5-0.

55th Minute –

Jake made a few substitutions, but the goals didn’t stop.

Leo Rasmussen, cutting in from the right, sent a curling shot into the far corner.

It was one of the best goals of the night.

Bradford weren’t just winning—they were putting on a show.

65th Minute –

Another counterattack.

Vélez sent a long ball into space, and Richter sprinted through, one-on-one with the keeper.

A calm, composed finish.

The scoreboard kept ticking.

77th Minute –

At this point, the opposition had completely collapsed.

A desperate clearance bounced off one of their own defenders and trickled into the net.

Even the away players knew this was a nightmare.

Bradford 8-0 up.

Jake almost felt bad for them.

Almost.

88th Minute –

One final dagger.

Silva, not satisfied with just one goal, added another.

A quick give-and-go with Mensah, a shift onto his right foot, and another curling effort into the top corner.

A perfect way to end the match.

Full-Time – A Ruthless Performance

Bradford 9-0 winners.

Silva and Barnes were back.

Bradford hadn’t just won.

They had made a statement.

The league title charge? Very much alive.