The Coaching System

Bradford's focus shifted back to the league.

The EFL Cup was important, but Jake had made it clear from the start—automatic promotion was the priority.

No playoffs. No last-day drama.

They were going up as champions.

And in their first month of League One football, Bradford played like a team that belonged at the top.

Match 2 – Charlton Athletic

Charlton wasn't just another opponent.

They were one of the favorites for promotion—a team with experience, a club that knew what it took to compete at the top of League One.

For Bradford, this was their first real test of the season.

The opening minutes set the tone.

Charlton pressed aggressively, closing down Vélez and Harper, trying to cut off Bradford's supply lines.

It was a scrappy, physical battle, neither side willing to give an inch.

But Bradford stayed composed.

They moved the ball patiently, waiting for the right moment to strike.

And in the 27th minute, they found it.

Silva picked up the ball on the right, took on his marker, and drove into the box.

A sharp cut inside. A quick one-two with Costa.

Then, a low, clinical finish into the bottom corner.

1-0.

Charlton didn't back down.

They kept pushing, kept looking for a way back—and early in the second half, they found one.

A corner swung into the box, a scramble, and a close-range finish.

1-1.

For the first time this season, Bradford were under pressure.

Could they respond?

74th minute.

Ibáñez, with space in midfield, spotted Novak making a run behind the defense.

A perfectly weighted pass.

Novak took one touch, steadied himself, and slotted it past the keeper.

2-1.

A moment of quality. A moment that sealed the game.

Charlton fought until the final whistle, but Bradford's defense held firm.

It wasn't their prettiest win.

But it was the kind of win that proved they could handle tough games.

Full-Time: Charlton 1-2 Bradford City

Match 3 – Cambridge United

Back at Valley Parade, Bradford had one objective—control the game from the first whistle.

And that's exactly what they did.

From the opening minutes, Cambridge struggled to get a foothold.

Bradford's passing was crisp, movement sharp, pressing relentless.

The breakthrough came inside 10 minutes.

Silva, dancing past his marker on the right, whipped in a dangerous low cross.

Costa, positioned perfectly, tapped it in from close range.

1-0.

Bradford never let up.

They controlled possession, moved the ball with ease, and suffocated Cambridge's attempts to counter.

Into the second half, Silva turned from provider to scorer.

A quick cut inside, a shift onto his left foot—then a curling effort into the top corner.

2-0.

Cambridge had no answer.

And in the closing stages, Mensah put the game to bed.

A burst of acceleration down the left, beating his man for pace—then a thunderous strike past the keeper.

3-0.

Bradford never looked in danger.

They dominated every aspect of the game.

And most importantly?

The first clean sheet of the season.

A performance that sent a message—Bradford weren't just winning.

They were in control.

Full-Time: Bradford 3-0 Cambridge United

Match 4 – Bristol Rovers

This was Bradford's toughest test so far—not because Bristol Rovers were dominant, but because everything felt like a battle.

From the opening whistle, the game was disjointed, physical, and frustrating.

And in the 14th minute, Bradford paid the price for a slow start.

A miscommunication between Barnes and Bianchi allowed Bristol Rovers through on goal.

One pass. One finish.

1-0.

For the next 50 minutes, Bradford hammered away at the Rovers' defense.

Silva twisted and turned on the right, but his cutbacks were blocked.

Mensah got into dangerous positions, but his shots were crowded out.

Costa saw a close-range effort somehow cleared off the line.

It felt like one of those nights.

Then—a moment of brilliance.

In the 71st minute, Bradford finally found an opening.

Harper laid the ball off to Ibáñez, standing 30 yards out.

One touch. One quick glance at goal.

Then—a thunderous strike.

The ball soared past the keeper, smashing into the top corner.

1-1.

Valley Parade erupted.

Bradford had their equalizer.

But Jake wasn't interested in a draw.

He pushed his team forward for one final push.

90th minute.

Bradford piled bodies into the box.

Silva, isolated on the right, took on his man—one last time.

A deep, floated cross into the penalty area.

And Richter?

He launched himself forward.

A diving header, full commitment, full power.

The ball crashed into the back of the net.

2-1.

Bradford stole all three points.

Rovers collapsed to the ground.

Jake just turned to the bench, nodding.

Winners find a way.

Full-Time: Bristol Rovers 1-2 Bradford City

Match 5 – Exeter City (4-0 Win, Home)

By now, Bradford looked unstoppable.

Jake rotated the squad heavily, resting key players after a demanding run of games.

But even with a fresh lineup, the level didn't drop.

From the opening whistle, Bradford dictated everything.

Exeter never had a chance to settle.

Bradford's Rotated XI (4-4-2)

Goalkeeper: Jack Simmons

Right-Back: Julian Rojas

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Center-Back: Marco Bianchi

Center-Back: Noah Fletcher

Left-Back: Lewis Hart

Central Midfield: Daniel Lowe

Central Midfield: Elliot Harper

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Right Midfield: Ethan Walsh

Left Midfield: Raphael Mensah

Striker: Tobias Richter

Striker: Guilherme Costa

Bradford started on the front foot, pinning Exeter back immediately.

The visitors struggled to get out of their own half.

Bradford's pressing was relentless.

And within eight minutes, they had the lead.

8' –

Lowe won the ball in midfield, muscling past his man.

A quick pass to Harper, who threaded a perfectly weighted through ball between the center-backs.

Richter, sharp as ever, peeled away from his marker, took a touch—then slotted past the keeper.

1-0.

Exeter's defenders looked at each other, frustrated.

Bradford weren't letting up.

Bradford continued to move the ball at speed, stretching the defense.

Mensah was electric on the left, driving at his full-back every chance he got.

Exeter's midfield couldn't cope with Lowe's aggression and Harper's vision.

And in the 27th minute, they struck again.

27' –

This time, it was individual brilliance.

Rojas swung in a cross from deep, curling toward the far post.

Mensah ghosted in behind his marker, bringing it down on his chest.

One quick shift onto his right foot—then a rifled shot into the top corner.

2-0.

Exeter's heads dropped.

Bradford were cruising.

Second Half – Finishing the Job

Jake made changes early:

Charlie Benson replaced Harper – Fresh energy in midfield.

Andrés Ibáñez replaced Lowe – More control in possession.

Santiago Vélez replaced Walsh – Keeping the midfield sharp.

Bradford lowered the tempo, controlling the game with ease.

Exeter chased shadows.

Then, just past the hour mark—Bradford ended it.

63' –

Ibáñez, fresh off the bench, picked out Richter with a perfectly floated pass.

Richter brought it down, shielded the ball, and backheeled it into Costa's path.

The striker didn't hesitate.

A quick snapshot—low, hard, past the keeper.

3-0.

Game over.

With the match winding down, Bradford won a corner in the 82nd minute.

Ibáñez delivered an outswinging cross, and Noah Fletcher rose highest.

A towering header. A debut goal.

4-0.

A commanding victory.

Full-Time: Bradford 4-0 Exeter City

Jake walked off the pitch with zero complaints.

A fully rotated squad.

The same dominance.

Bradford weren't just winning.

They were showing that no matter who played, the level never dropped.

Jake's Reflection –

Four league games. Four wins.

But it wasn't just about the results.

Bradford had shown different ways to win.

Grinding out tough battles (Charlton, Bristol Rovers).

Dominating with pure quality (Cambridge, Exeter).

Defensive improvements—fewer mistakes, more control.

Novak stepping up as the main goal scorer.

Top of the league.

The momentum was real. The belief was growing.

But next?

A completely different challenge.

The EFL Cup. Fulham.

A Premier League-level squad, filled with top-tier talent.

And even more personal for Jake—this was Saidi's new team.

The defender he once relied on at Bradford.

Now? An opponent standing in their way.

Jake leaned back in his office chair, scanning the upcoming fixture list.

This next game?

It would show just how far they'd come.