Bradford City captain Richie Smallwood has admitted his red card against Swindon Town may have cost his side promotion—but insists he will not shy away from a similar challenge in Saturday’s must-win clash against Fleetwood.
The experienced midfielder was sent off early in the chaotic 5-4 defeat earlier this month, a moment that proved to be a turning point in the Bantams’ final push for League Two promotion. Since then, Bradford have failed to secure a win, drawing two and losing one of the three games Smallwood missed through suspension.
Now, ahead of the season finale, the City skipper has addressed the incident and the impact it’s had on the team’s fortunes.
“I felt like I let the team and the club down in that moment,” he told the Telegraph and Argus. “Whether I thought it was a red card or not, the referee reacted how he did and I let my teammates down.
“I fully believe that if I didn’t get sent off, we would be already promoted. But we’ve still got a big game to play and thankfully it’s still in our hands.”
“I Won’t Back Out”: Skipper Stands by His Aggressive Style
Despite the consequences of his dismissal, Smallwood remains unapologetic about the physical nature of his game. He believes backing down now would go against everything he’s built his career on.
“I’ve thought about it numerous times and I’m pretty sure if there’s a 50/50 on Saturday, I’m not going to back out of it,” he said.
“You’ve seen me do those tackles numerous times over the past three years and it’s not even been given a foul. It was unfortunate that it was given a red. I totally understand the decision.”
Smallwood’s return will provide a major boost for City, who remain in control of their own destiny ahead of the final round of matches. His leadership and composure in midfield could prove decisive as Bradford look to end the season on a high.
Writer’s View
Richie Smallwood’s honesty and accountability are refreshing, especially in a pressure-cooker situation like the one Bradford City currently face. His belief that he could have made the difference in recent games isn’t misplaced—his leadership, positioning and voice in midfield are integral to this team.
But his refusal to change his style could be a double-edged sword. While it speaks to his commitment and identity as a player, another misstep on Saturday could be disastrous. For the Bantams’ sake, he’ll need to find that fine line between passion and control.
