Yesterday (Thursday), we revealed number 5 in the countdown from 10 to 1 of the list of best City victories from throughout the 2014-15 season. Number 5 was of course the 2-1 victory against Preston North End at Deepdale, a side who were ultimately promoted to the Championship; Mark Yeates curled in a superb winning goal, just seconds after it looked as if Joe Garner had rescued a point for the home side. At 4, it’s the 4-0 demolition of Millwall in the FA Cup 3rdRound Replay, which of course setup the tie with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Bradford City4 (Hanson 8, Stead 17, Halliday 39, Knott 57)
Millwall0
14/01/15 – The Coral Windows Stadium
Knowing that a win would setup an away tie at the Premier League Champions to be, Chelsea, it added a real flavour to a cup tie that couldn’t be decided in London 11 days earlier, as the two sides shared a six goal thriller – 3-3 it finished at The Den.
Despite struggling in the Championship, you always felt that the visitors would raise their game significantly, with the hope of a big London derby with Jose Mourinho’s men, but it wasn’t the case and it was always City’s night from the moment the first whistle sounded.
Moments after Mark Beevers was sent off for a professional foul, James Hanson headed the hosts into the lead. Jon Stead capitalised on some lackadaisical defending to double the lead, and knock the stuffing out of the Lions.
Andy Halliday scored from close range before the interval to leave the Championship visitors in a heap on the floor at the half time interval. Millwall manager Ian Holloway was under real pressure in the hot seat, and he was to last less than two months before his dismissal.
The game was a heated affair; Phil Parkinson and Steve Parkin were both sent to the stand following a coming together between a number of players, after Alan Dunne’s over the top challenge on James Hanson sparked a reaction - and there had of course, already been a red card in the game.
Billy Knott, a boyhood West Ham United fan, got his goal to cap a terrific night in West Yorkshire and take the score to 4-0; Knott had already scored a brace against the Championship club in the initial tie, and he put the icing on the cake as City prepared themselves for a mouth-watering tie with Chelsea.
Starting XI:
Williams, Darby ©, McArdle, Davies, Meredith, Liddle, Morais, Halliday, Knott (Yeates 73), Hanson (Routis 80), Stead (Zoko 69)
Unused Subs:
Urwin, Sheehan, Kennedy, Webb-Foster
Bookings:Davies, Halliday, Knott
11,859 (611 Millwall fans)Attendance:
Parkinson’s Reaction:
‘I’m very pleased. After the disappointment of Saturday (last minute defeat to Rochdale) where we didn’t get what we deserved, the way we responded tonight was terrific.’
‘We started the game really well and did everything right. We were very professional, even at 3-0 up, we kept doing the right things on the pitch because we wanted to get the clean sheet tonight.’
‘There was a big prize at stake; getting the club to the 4thround of the FA Cup for the first time in 15 years, but also the tie at Stamford Bridge.’
‘We wanted to achieve it, we focused on the factors which were going to help us, and we did the job really well tonight.’
Andy Halliday:
‘I’m hoping that we don’t see in the newspapers tomorrow that them going down to 10 men was a factor in that game, because it wasn’t; I think the way we started the game meant there was only going to be one winner.’
‘We looked dangerous from the early set plays and Hans (James Hanson) has got the goal for us. We said before the game that we had to start with the same intensity we have been doing in the recent run, especially because we’ve got a lot of confidence and they don’t.’
‘I think if we were to get the early goal then it would open up, and that was the case, obviously playing against 10 men helped, but I think we were comfortable from the first minute to be honest.’
Watch the YouTube video below to re-live the night we put 4 past Millwall to secure a momentous cup tie with the Champions of England in the waiting, Chelsea.
We will bring you number 3 in the list on Monday, keep your eyes peeled for that one!