To be honest after the recent performances I would probably have given this one a miss, but the mid-week news that Alan Knill had been sacked and Mark Robins had taken over as manager gave me the extra incentive I needed and once I’d persuaded Grounds Keeper Willy to come with me on the Friday night after a few beers, it was nailed on.

The Friday night in Newcastle meant an early start for me Willy if we were to make it to Rotherham in time to see the Liverpool v Man U. game on TV prior to the Millers match, but we decided to do it anyway. And after an incident free journey we arrived at The Moulders Rest around 12:20. Well in time to get settled order a pint and some food before the game started on TV. You may recall I mentioned The Moulders Rest the other week and how they were basically conning people in by advertising the live matches and then not showing them, but Willy’s mates, that we had arranged to meet, said that it had recently been taken over. So we gave it a try. It’s now not bad, refurbished, a decent cheap food menu and a couple of screens showing the games.

 As we sat and watched the game Willy’s mates arrived and so did half of Bradford. The pub quickly became standing room only and apart from the five of us it was all BCFC. Not a problem, we all watched the game in perfect harmony until 10 minutes from the end. At this point a dozen or so brain dead Bradford fans pushed there way in and then through the bar. I have always thought that we had the ugliest, stupidest fans in the world, I have changed my mind. These guys had IQ’s so low that they had to concentrate to breath and blink. Pushing around a packed pub they were standing in front of screens & TV’s, shouting obscenities at each other and anybody else that they came close to, the atmosphere in the place very quickly changed. One bloke wearing glasses thicker than a home made bacon sandwich actually stood so close to a wall mounted plasma that his lens were scratching the screen. And as he tried to get still closer, he kept bouncing off the TV. He looked like a 16 stone Moth!

 I think these guys thought they’d walked into a pub full of Millers and therefore just didn’t care. And several of the Bradford fans had a go at them, as there were a lot of kids in there enjoying the game as well. The instant response was very aggressive until they realised they were talking / shouting at fellow Bradford fans at which point it all became a big joke to them, nobody else was laughing though. Eventually the light dawned on them that there were no Millers to have a go at and they left.

 As usual we were all in different parts of the ground and I headed off up into the main stand while Willy & Co headed for the Tivoli. As the teams ran out, for the first time in 3 games I applauded them. I’m not proud of the fact that I haven’t done so recently but I have not been able to raise any enthusiasm for the absolute garbage football they have been offering up. But this was ‘another’ new beginning and I was almost prepared to forgive them their recent past and offer them the support that I usually have done for over 30 years. As Mark Robins emerged from the tunnel and walked to the dugout he received the kind of welcome and support you’d expect. I know he’s only caretaker, but I do think he’ll make a really good manager. Maybe not quite so soon into this coaching career but at some point he’ll do very well. Hopefully that’ll be with Rotherham.

The game started brightly for us, for a change and with 6 minutes Facey put us 1-0 up. Amazing, I cannot remember the last time we went a goal up in a game. That’s how bad we’ve been recently. After 30 minutes or so we started to fade a little and Bradford came back into the game. And had it not been for the lines man’s flag we’d have gone in level at the break. He didn’t look off-side to me.

 The second half started brightly for Bradford and a great run and curving shot, from their full-back (I think) saw them pull level. They continued to press and it looked as though we would be lucky to stay in the game, but then……at long last we got a bit of luck. A 40 yard floated free kick from Woods was dropped over the line by the Ricketts in the Bradford goal. Undeservedly we were 2-1 up. Suddenly we had a bit of life in our game again and it wasn’t long before Facey got a shot away which went in off the post. Bradford responded and pressed had. I for one was worried if they were to get one then I could see us collapsing. And they actually had the ball in the net another twice, both from corners (I think), but both were ruled out by the referee. I couldn’t tell you why. Then almost sensing my concern Woods hit a fantastic shot into the top right left hand corner, which was every bit as good as Bradford’s equaliser. We were now 4-1 up, difficult to believe after recent games.

 As the final whistle went the crowd stood and applauded the players and the players applauded the crowd. A show of mutual relief