Blackpool 0 Bradford 1: Eyes down ready to go again, says Phil Parkinson
Kyel Reid’s second-half strike was the decisive blow on a sandy surface at Bloomfield Road.
Despite his side moving to within a point of the play-off places, Parkinson is adamant they cannot take their foot off the gas against basement club Colchester tomorrow night.
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Hide Ad“Teams at the bottom are fighting and kicking for every ball. The minute you give anything less than 100 per cent for a game, you leave yourself open to trouble,” said Parkinson.
“The lads are really pleased with their work, but it is eyes down and ready to go again on Tuesday night. We have to show the same commitment and resilience as we did at Blackpool.”
Former Bantam Mark Yeates had the only meaningful chance before the break. His curling effort needed a superb full-stretch save from Ben Williams to tip it onto the bar.
Nine minutes after the break, Reid struck his second goal of the campaign. Bantams captain Stephen Darby surged past four players before squaring the ball inside to the winger, who calmly slotted home a first-time finish.
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Hide Ad“It was a moment of inspiration from Darbs for the goal – a great run and pass from Stephen – and a fantastic finish from Reidy,” added Parkinson.
Will Aimson was sent off for shoving City’s James Hanson a minute from time.
Blackpool: Doyle, White, Aldred, Aimson, Robertson, McAlister (Paterson 78), Norris, Potts, Yeates (Redshaw 78), Cullen (Ikpeazu 61), Philliskirk. Unused substitutes: Lyness, Boyce, Ferguson, Herron.
Bradford City: Williams, Darby, McArdle, Burke, Meredith, McMahon, Evans, Cullen, Reid, Thomas (Davies 66 (B Clarke 88), Hanson. Unused substitutes: Cracknell, N Clarke, Marshall, Knott, Leigh.
Referee: M Bull (Essex).
Man of the match: Stephen Darby.