Parkinson revels in 'huge win'
Friday 3 April 2015 22:55, UK
Phil Parkinson hailed Bradford's 3-0 win at Doncaster as one of the best of the campaign as they closed in on the play-off spots.
Second-half goals from Gary MacKenzie, Billy Clarke and Tony McMahon sent the 2,140 visiting fans home happy as City inflicted yet more home misery on Rovers. "That's got to be one of our best wins of the season," insisted Parkinson. "To come to a place like Doncaster, with all their Championship-quality players, it was a huge win for us. "I thought we started really well in the first 20-25 minutes, but then we let them back into it. In the second half, we did the right things in the right area. "The lads relished it on that surface tonight. You could see that the likes of Billy Knott, Billy Clarke and Mark Yeates relished playing on a better surface, the lads had a spring in their step." He may not have scored, but striker James Hanson proved a handful for the Rovers defence and Parkinson was quick to pay tribute to the frontman, adding: "He hasn't been at his best, but he showed here what he is all about. "He's not just a big man, he has got ability and footballing intelligence. He holds the ball up and sometimes he doesn't get the credit he deserves." In a first-half shaded by Rovers, Curtis Main came closest to scoring when his powerful effort crashed against the angle of bar and post. Bradford, though, stepped up a gear after the break and were ahead after 54 minutes when Gary MacKenzie eventually bundled home after a frantic goalmouth scramble. Stephen Bywater saved well from Billy Knott as City searched for a second, which duly came after 63 minutes when Hanson broke away and teed up Clarke who drove home from the edge of the box. Sub McMahon rubbed Rovers' noses in it in added-on time as he rifled home the third in a Bradford breakaway. Doncaster manager Paul Dickov was seething after witnessing his side crumble in the second half and had some harsh words for his players. "I am more angry than disappointment, but I have to give Bradford a lot of credit," said Dickov. "They out-fought us, out-battled us, all the basic things in games. "We made unbelievable and embarrassing mistakes for their goals and it gave me plenty of food for thought, not only for this season, but next season also. "I get embarrassed sometimes asking my teams to work hard, but I shouldn't have to ask them, it should be a given. If I leave people out now, not one of them has an excuse to come knocking on my door." Asked if he had any positives to salvage from the defeat, the Scot said: "Liam Mandeville when he came on, an outstanding young kid. He is one to wrap up a little bit, but he showed courage, grit and a lot of quality. He was an 18-year-old man out there."