'I'm ready to do the business'

From the archive, first published Friday 10th Feb 2006.

Danny Cadamarteri is ready to step up to the plate at Valley Parade tomorrow.

Cadamarteri will partner Dean Windass in the City attack against Swindon after being axed last week.

He replaces Andy Cooke for a game that the Bantams need to win to avoid being sucked in to a potential relegation scrap.

Cadamarteri has scored only one league goal since rejoining the club - a tap-in against Bournemouth in August.

He was ditched for the 3-1 loss at Colchester after failing to hit the net in his previous 17 starts.

Cadamarteri said: "The strikers are in the team to be scoring goals. That's what is expected of you, just like defenders are expected to keep clean-sheets and midfielders to create chances.

"Every position you play there is a certain expectation and if you aren't doing that, then you can't expect to be playing.

"I was disappointed to be left out but I understood the manager's reasoning. As he said to Steve Claridge and myself, we'd not been scoring goals and he felt the need to make a change to try and kick-start things.

"I accepted that and it's just made me knuckle down with training to fight to get back in the team."

Only three sides, Gillingham, Hartlepool and basement dwellers MK Dons, have scored fewer goals than City. Windass has accounted for 11 of their 32-goal tally.

"Everybody knows we are struggling as a team to score," said Cadamarteri.

"Deano has obviously made a great contribution with his goals and we're going to miss him massively when he is suspended. But we can't look at that as a negative.

"It's up to the likes of myself, Steve Claridge, Andy Cooke and Joe Brown, if he's involved, to chip in and do our best to get the goals again.

"I felt I've been contributing quite well to the team's performances but not had the goals to show for it.

"I wouldn't say I've had a great deal of clear-cut chances and the majority I've

probably had to create myself from outside the box. But it's the same with Deano and he's taken the half-chances that have come his way.

"It's important to help the team out first and foremost and then hopefully the goals will come."

Swindon come to Valley Parade in 21st spot but are boosted by three wins from the last four games. Cadamarteri is gearing up for a tough scrap.

He said: "You get teams who have started very slowly but then pick up at this time of the season. Swindon have won a few games and are pushing on a bit just like Blackpool.

"People expect you to beat sides like that but we know it will be tough. We need to

concentrate on the basics and as long as we do that, we'll come out on top."

Archive Home