Mike Tyson used to simply steamroller through adversaries. No matter what skillset they brought, his combination of speed and power saw them usually flat on their back and looking up at the ceiling lights.
Of course, Iron Mike came unstuck against the rank outsider James ‘Buster’ Douglas and was KOd himself – a warning against complacency if there ever was one.
What Mike Tyson taught us is twofold: first you don’t bring a pea-shooter to a knife fight and, second, beware complacency.
After a weak start to this season, Bradford City are beginning to find their KO power and are putting in some real, vintage Mike Tyson performances.
After a loss on Matchday 11 against strugglers AFC Wimbledon, the Bantams were jettisoned into the relegation zone for the second time this season. Abject performances kept them in there for 11 games – seven of these being firmly rooted to the bottom.
Then results, and fortunes began to take an upturn, and City definitely came out swinging from the hip. Since losing 4-0 to Luton Town in late-November, the Bantams have begun slugging away at opponents.
Three goals in a 3-3 draw against Plymouth Argyle, four goals in a 4-0 win against Walsall, two goals in a 2-0 against Scunthorpe. Then, there was the robbery of a 1-0 loss at Sunderland, a robbery were City had a perfectly valid goal chalked off.
However, that disappointment aside, Bradford have bounced back with a 4-0 thumping of Rochdale at their Spotland ground. Goals from Nathaniel Knight-Percival, Anthony O’Connor, Eoin Doyle and George Miller were evidence enough of the KO punch that the Bantams possess.
It wasn’t enough to lift them out of the bottom three, City currently have 24 points and are a win away from safety. Yet, what it does provide is both hope for their fans, and a warning for others, that Bradford City are finding their range and woe betide anyone standing flat-footed in their way.