Bradford City 1 Walsall 0 - Report

Analysis

A second-half Billy Clarke goal was enough to win the points for Stuart McCall’s side in keenly contested clash in Yorkshire.

In a game of few clear-cut chances, Clarke’s first goal in 15 games ensured the Saddlers remain without a win on the road since Boxing Day.

Andreas Makris almost put Jon Whitney’s side ahead in the first half with a snap-shot that was well saved by Colin Doyle.

Kieron Morris was then thwarted in the closing stages as the Saddlers pushed for an equaliser.

But in the end it was the Bantams who took the points after shading the 90 minutes with Jamaican winger Mark Marshall proving a danger all afternoon.

The result means Walsall have lost three consecutive games in League One for the first time since 2014.

In naming his starting line-up, boss Whitney made two changes to the team that fell to defeat at Southend.

With Erhun Oztumer ruled out with an ankle injury – Franck Moussa retained his place in the number 10 role after netting twice at Roots Hall.

There was also a recall for Kieron Morris who came into midfield at the expense of George Dobson as the Saddlers stuck with their favoured 3-5-1-1 formation.

The big surprise though came on the substitute’s bench where promising scholars Tobias Hayles-Docherty and Mitchel Candlin were named in a senior match-day squad for the first time.

For Bradford, Charlie Wyke, Alex Jones and Mark Marshall started in a three-pronged attack as Stuart McCall lined up his charges in a 3-4-3 system.

In what was a keenly contested opening 25 minutes, clear-cut chances proved few and far between with both sides sticking to their shape and defending well.

But as the clock ticked past the half-hour mark, the game started to become more open with the Saddlers coming a whisker away from breaking the deadlock.

After some excellent work by Joe Edwards, Whitney’s men countered at pace with Morris bursting forward before slipping in Makris.

The Cypriot international then hit a snap shot on the turn that looked destined to nestle into the bottom corner but a diving Colin Doyle just got his fingertips to the ball to push it wide.

Bradford hit-back with a short free-kick worked to Nat Knight-Percival who saw two strikes at goal expertly blocked by the Walsall defence.

The Bantams were then presented with a glorious chance to opening the scoring just before half-time when Neil Etheridge dropped a whipped in cross from Tony McMahon.

The ball fell kindly for Jones who looked destined to nod it home only for James O’Connor to spare his keepers’ blushes and head clear off the line.

It was Walsall who started the brighter of the two teams after the interval with Matt Preston powerfully heading wide from a corner.

Bradford then created a glorious chance to take the lead when Marshall worked his way to the byline before delivering a dangerous low-cross.

That delivery was met by Wyke who looked to sidefoot the ball home only for Preston to somehow prod it away from virtually his own goal-line.

Minutes later though and the home side were ahead with Marshall again terrorising the Saddlers back-line.

The Jamaican sent in another low cross into the box with Clarke this time making no mistake and slamming the ball into the roof of the net from close range.

That goal took some string out of the game with Whitney switching Makris for Simeon Jackson with 15 minutes to go as the Saddlers went in search of an equaliser.

It was Bradford though who continued to look the more dangerous and they almost doubled their advantage when James Meredith’s route-one ball put Wyke in-behind the defence.

The former Carlisle man carried the ball into the box but then drilled a strike wide of the angle when he should have at least hit the target.

Seconds later, the Saddlers had a glorious chance to pull level when the ball fell for Morris but the midfielder’s rasping drive from 12-yards was parried away by Doyle.

Whitney responded by introducing youngster Candlin for skipper Adam Chambers.

But despite the teenager showing some nice touches, the Saddlers were unable to find an equaliser in the closing stages – with Bradford seeing out the game relatively comfortably.

Key moments

2 Charlie Wyke looks to break into the area but Matt Preston does well to come across and put the ball out for a throw.

13 A Saddlers corner drops for James O'Connor, who drills a low ball across the box but the Bradford defence clear.

16 Kieron Morris bursts nto the box before seeing a strike deflected for a corner.

19 Jason McCarthy does really well to get to the byline but his low cut-back for Andreas Makris is intercepted.

24 Billy Clarke turns in the box before firing well over.

25 Makris hits a fierce volley from distance which sails inches wide.

31 Some excellent work from Joe Edwards allows Walsall to counter with Morris slipping in Makris who sees a snap-shot brilliantly saved by Colin Doyle.

34 Bradford work a short free-kick to Nat Knight-Percival who sees two shots well blocked by the Walsall defence.

40 Tony McMahon's cross is dropped by Neil Etheridge but Alex Jones' close-range header is cleared off the line by James O'Connor.

49 Matt Preston powers a header wide following a corner.

52 Marshall's cross is turned towards goal by Wyke but Preston somehow manages to stab clear from virtually his own goal line.

58 Goal Bradford. Billy Clarke slams the ball into the roof of the net after Marshall's low cross isn't dealt with by the Saddlers defence.

79 Meredith's long ball is chased by Wyke, he gets past O'Connor but drags his left-footed strike wide of the far post.

80 The ball breaks for Morris, who sees a left-footed drive parried by Doyle.

86 Marshall's low strike is deflected wide.

Teams

Bradford: Bradford: Doyle, Meredith, Vincelot, Marshall, Wyke, Clarke (Dieng 75), Cullen, Jones, Knight-Percival, McArdle, McMahon.

Subs not used: Cracknell, Darby, Law, Toner, Hiwula, Devine.

Walsall: Etheridge, Laird, O'Connor, Preston, Edwards, McCarthy, Chambers (Candlin 83), Osbourne, Morris, Moussa, Makris (Jackson 73).

Subs not used: MacGillivray, Roberts, Kinsella, Dobson, Jackson, Hayles-Docherty.

Position in the table

League One: 13th