The Coaching System

Second Half 

Bradford stepped back onto the pitch with one clear objective—play football, not fall into the trap.

The first half had been a brawl disguised as a match, but now, with Jake's words ringing in their ears, the players moved with purpose, not emotion.

Gillingham still pressed aggressively, but Bradford kept possession, shifting the ball quickly to avoid dangerous tackles.

Their patience paid off.

55th Minute 

Ortega picked up the ball in midfield, turned, and saw Novak making a run into space.

He threaded a perfect through-ball, slicing through Gillingham's backline.

Novak sprinted onto it, a defender on his back, another closing in from the side.

With one slick movement, he cut inside, leaving both defenders behind—then curled a low, driven shot into the bottom corner.

GOAL!

(1-1!)

The stadium erupted.

Novak turned to the crowd, pumping his fists, while Jake finally cracked a smile.

"That's how you do it," he muttered.

Bradford was back in the fight.

60th Minute 

Gillingham didn't take the equalizer well.

Frustration boiled over.

Novak received a pass and was about to turn when—

CRACK.

A brutal sliding tackle from behind sent him flying.

Jake immediately jumped up from the dugout.

"Are you serious?! That's a red!"

Novak clutched his ankle, grimacing in pain.

The referee hesitated, then pulled out a red card for the Gillingham player.

But Jake wasn't celebrating.

Novak wasn't getting up quickly.

The physio rushed over, speaking quietly to Novak before signaling to the bench.

Jake sighed.

"Damn it."

🔄 Substitution: Joe Thompson ON, Lukas Novak OFF.

As Novak limped off, Jake patted his shoulder.

"Rest up, we need you healthy."

Novak nodded, frustration clear on his face.

Bradford had the man advantage now, but could they stay disciplined?

68th Minute 

Despite being down to ten men, Gillingham didn't stop their dirty tactics.

Ortega dribbled down the wing, shielding the ball near the sideline.

Then—

BANG!

A Gillingham midfielder shoved him with full force, sending Ortega flying into the advertising boards.

Gasps from the crowd.

Jake stormed to the edge of his technical area.

"That's assault! What the hell are you doing?!"

Ortega groaned, clutching his side.

The referee?

Only gave a verbal warning.

Jake laughed in disbelief, rubbing a hand down his face.

"Unreal," he muttered.

He turned back to his team.

"Keep your heads! They're trying to bait you!"

Easier said than done.

75th Minute 

The match was one step away from chaos.

Jake needed fresh legs, so he made three quick changes.

🔄 Substitutions:

Jamie Collins ON, Renan Silva OFF

Charlie Benson ON, Daniel Lowe OFF

Lewis Chapman ON, Alejandro Ortega OFF

Carter's Red Card!

Just minutes after the changes, it finally exploded.

Carter chased a loose ball, but a Gillingham player arrived late, shoving him to the ground.

Carter jumped up, shoved him back.

The opponent?

Dove like he had been shot.

The referee immediately ran over, pulling out a second yellow card and then a red card for Carter and a red for gillingham player!

Jake froze for half a second, then stormed down the touchline.

"You've got to be kidding me!"

Carter lost it.

"What?! I barely touched him!"

The Gillingham player was rolling around like he'd been hit by a truck.

The Bradford players rushed in, furious.

Jake acted fast.

He grabbed Carter's arm, pulling him away before things got worse.

"You lost your head again. Now we finish this without you."

Carter's nostrils flared, but he nodded, breathing heavily.

As he walked off, Jake sighed.

"We need to be smarter."

Final Minutes 

 85th Minute – A Full-Team Brawl Nearly Erupts

Lowe drove forward, playing a sharp pass out wide to Collins.

A Gillingham defender lunged in late, sending Lowe sprawling.

For half a second, nothing happened.

Then—

Collins shoved the Gillingham player!

Benson got in his face. Gillingham's bench jumped up.

Suddenly—

A full-team scuffle broke out.

Players pushed, shouted, grabbed shirts—but somehow, it didn't turn into an actual fight.

The referee panicked, blowing his whistle repeatedly.

Yellow cards were handed out like candy.

Jake didn't even argue anymore.

He just stood on the sideline, arms crossed, shaking his head.

"What a joke."

Bradford kept pushing, but the referee added only three minutes of stoppage time—way too little.

The game ended in chaos, not football.

Full-time: 1-1.

As the teams walked off, Jake knew what was coming next.

Post-Match Fallout

The league wasted no time.

🔺 Both Bradford and Gillingham fined for unsportsmanlike conduct

🔺 The media blasted the match as an embarrassment to League Two football.

Jake?

He stood in the press room, arms crossed, staring at the reporters.

Press Conference 

First question:

"Jake, what do you make of tonight's match?"

Jake sighed.

"Football is about passion. But we need to be smarter."

Second question:

"Has your team lost control?"

Jake's eyes hardened.

"We're here to play football. Not get dragged into nonsense."

Final question:

"Do you regret how your team handled the game?"

Jake smirked.

"No. We'll learn from this. And next time? We'll win the right way."

As Jake walked out of the press room, he clenched his jaw.

This wasn't just a rough game.

This was a message.

The next time they faced Gillingham?

There would be no mercy.