Town won their third away game on the trot with a late Jamie Clapham freekick adding to a first half Dan Petrescu own goal. Town lined up as they did last week which meant a place on the bench once more for Titus Bramble.
The first half saw Town passing the ball around in their usual fashion, taking the game to the home side. Bradford’s main tactic seemed to be to try to break up the Town passing and movement with fouls. Holland, Wilnis, Magilton, Naylor, all were victims of poor challenges mostly missed by referee Taylor. As the half went on, however, he started to get a grip on some of the challenges issuing a yellow card to Stuart McCall and giving one or two players a long talking to.
By this time the Blues were a goal up. A 33rd minute Jamie Clapham cross was deflected into his own net by Dan Petrescu. Despite the fortunate nature of the goal it was all Town deserved from a half where Bradford were totally out classed. At the back Fabian Wilnis dealt with Carbone with ease and the only save Richard Wright made was from an Ashley Ward shot from a tight angle on the right.
The second half saw a less impressive performance from the Blues, but there was still little of not from the opposition. Bradford appeared to have little idea with Richard Wright rarely called into action for anything other than goalkicks.
Town sat back more in the second half and allowed Bradford to come at them more. However, the defence were solid, but many will feel the Blues could have perhaps played the ball out more on occasion.
Bradford’s best spell came towards the end of the game with high balls being pumped up to their strikers. Their best opportunity came from a mammoth goalmouth scramble, but the Town defence did enough to keep the ball away.
Marcus Stewart, another victim of some rough challenges, was replaced limping by David Johnson and the Town number nine went close to scoring his first of the season. Johnson latched on to a cross and leapt high to head the ball goalwards. It appeared every inch Town’s second goal until Matt Clarke’s hand pushed it away.
Just a minute later, however the second goal came. Richard Naylor was fouled just outside the Bradford penalty area by Peter Atherton and three players stepped up to claim the kick. It was Jamie Clapham who got the nod and beautifully curled the ball to Clarke’s left to kill the game off.
Town dominated the remaining minutes as the Bradford crowd left in droves. Another away win and things continue to go as well as we could ever have expected.