Bradford 1 Walsall 1 - Report and pictures

After beating relegation rivals Northampton on Saturday, the Saddlers travelled to Valley Parade knowing a single point would be enough to keep them in the division.

And Dean Keates’ men got the job done with Erhun Oztumer giving them the lead midway through the first-half.

The Bantams levelled though Matthew Lund just seconds before the interval to set up a tense second-half.

But the Saddlers held on to get the job done.

It means they can now relax for their final day trip to Fleetwood, with the Saddlers mathematically certain of their place in League One for the 2018/19 campaign.

Analysis

In naming his starting line-up, boss Keates opted to keep faith with the side that secured a crucial victory against Northampton on Saturday.

It meant the Saddlers remained in a 4-4-2 formation with Kory Roberts continuing at right -back, Nicky Devlin on the right of midfield and Erhun Oztumer and Amadou Bakayoko up front.

Bradford also lined in the same system with dangerman Charlie Wyke partnered in attack by Shay McCartan.

Before kick-off, there was a minute’s silence in memory of the 56 people who died in Valley Parade fire back in May 1985.

The Bantams entered the clash with boss Simon Grayson – who replaced the sacked Stuart McCall in February – set to hold talks regarding his future at the club within the next 48 hours.

It was the Saddlers though who created the game’s first chance with George Dobson driving past a number of challenges before seeing a low drive from the edge of the box claimed by Colin Doyle.

At what was a strangely subdued Valley Parade, Bradford responded with Tony McMahon sending in a dangerous cross after getting the better of Luke Leahy.

The delivery was pushed away by Liam Roberts with Kory Roberts then doing excellently to scramble the ball clear ahead of Wyke.

Overall the opening stages had proved cagey, but Walsall seized the initiative midway through the half when Oztumer netted his 17th of the campaign.

After good work from Leahy and Bakayoko, Dobson collected the ball just eight-yards from goal and looked to power a strike into the bottom corner.

But while his shot was blocked, Oztumer was on hand to nod the ball home with a diving header at the back post.

It wasn’t until the 38th minute that Bradford threatened to grab an equaliser with Wyke heading wide following a whipped Steven Warnock delivery.

And it seemed Walsall would hold on for a deserved half-time lead with Kory Roberts impressing at right-back and Kieron Morris, Dobson and Oztumer all lively.

But they allowed Bradford to get back on terms in stoppage time with the defence switching-off to allow an unmarked Lund to head in from close range following a Warnock cross.

The game remained fairly uneventful in the opening stages of the second half with Grayson opting to make a change in the 55th minute when he replaced Alex Gilliead with Jordan Gibson.

And the change almost proved inspired with the Birmingham-born midfielder darting into the box and past Dobson before steering a strike on the angle inches wide.

Suddenly it was all Bradford with Wyke seeing a glancing header claimed by Liam Roberts. And just moments later, the striker was presented with an even better chance to score.

After McCartan had seen a rasping drive from 18-yards parried away by Liam Roberts. The ball fell kindly for Wyke who fired over the bar when he should have scored.

Walsall responded with Dobson having a couple of darting runs into the box.

But for the last 20 minutes, the Saddlers largely played without the ball with Keates men looking disciplined in their two banks of four.

And while it was nervy, they held on for the point they needed relatively comfortably with Keates’ men now able to go Fleetwood on the final day knowing their League One status is secure.

Teams

Bradford: Doyle, Vincelot, Dieng, Wyke, McCartan, Warnock (Chicksen 78), Gilliead (Gibson 55), Guy (Hawkes 65), Knight-Percival, McMahon, Lund.

Subs not used: Raeder, Chicksen, Law, Devine, Patrick

Walsall: L. Roberts, K. Roberts, Fitzwater, Guthrie, Leahy, Devlin, Chambers, Dobson, Morris, Oztumer (Cuvelier 86), Bakayoko.

Subs not used: Gillespie, Kinsella, Flanagan, Ngoy, Candlin, Kouhyar.