Saturday 5 October 2013 Sky Bet League 1 Walsall 0 Bradford City 2 (Reid 45, Hanson 47) Kick Off: 3.00pm at the Banks's Stadium Attendance: 5,364 (1,359 visitors) City secured perhaps their most impressive victory of the season so far with a deserved away win at Walsall. A stunning drive from distance from Kyel Reid on the stroke of half time and a confident finish from James Hanson just after the break gave Phil Parkinson's men their third win on the trot to lift them up to fourth in the League 1 ladder. Sitting only three points behind City in the table going into the contest and with some impressive results under their belt already this campaign, Walsall have a neat passing style that can cause opponents problems if allowed. A disciplined defensive display from Parkinson's side, however, ensured the Saddlers came off second best throughout the Sky Bet League 1 contest. The win for the Bantams is the fourth in their last five matches and also sees City secure back-to-back away victories and clean sheets following their success at Gillingham two weeks ago. Roared on another passionate and plentiful away support, City enjoyed the better openings of a relatively even first period until Reid's stunner just before the break gave the Bantams the crucial advantage at the interval. Picking up the ball from inside his own half, Reid surged forward before letting rip from around 25 yards out with an absolutely magnificent strike that rocketed into the top corner. Barely ninety seconds of the second half had been played when City struck for a second time to give themselves a decisive grip on the game. Rory McArdle's lofted ball forward was helped on by Mark Yeates into the path of Hanson to leave the striker with a clear run on goal. Hanson showed impressive composure to drill a half-volley past Walsall 'keeper Richard O'Donnell from inside the area to leave City firmly in pole position for the points. Understandably, Walsall threw more men forward as the half progressed in search of a way back into the encounter but City's defensive shape was proved very hard to break down. City introduced Caleb Folan from the substitutes late on to give the big striker his Bradford debut, while Jason Kennedy was also brought on in the final quarter of the game for the midfielder's first action in the league for the Bantams. The hosts had the lion's share of possession in the closing stages of the game as the Bantams stuck to their defensive shape and looked to hold onto their two-goal advantage. Walsall did have one or two brief glimpses of goal as time ticked away but, in truth, there was no denying City had performed strong enough on the day to warrant the win. WALSALL LINEUP O'Donnell, J Chambers, Downing, Butler, Taylor, Featherstone, A Chambers, Mantom, Westcarr, Lalkovic, Hewitt Subs: Lewis, Purkiss, Hemmings, Benning, Baxendale, Sawyers, McQulkin Walsall changes Baxendale for Hewitt (61), Sawyers for Lalkovic (61), Hemmings for Featherstone (61) BRADFORD CITY LINE UP McLaughlin, Darby, Davies, McArdle, Meredith, Thompson, Doyle, Jones, Reid, Yeates, Hanson Subs: Ripley, Oliver, Kennedy, McHugh, Connell, Folan, De Vita Bradford City changes: Kennedy for Yeates (77), Folan for Hanson (82), De Vita for Reid (88) Referee: E Ilderton Assistant Referee: N Murphy Assistant Referee: T. Wood Fourth Official: R Lewis Read more at http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/article/walsall-vs-bradford-city-1095962.aspx#q3v868BvsYMrgORi.99

• published: 06 Oct 2013
• views: 5608