Bradford City 1 Millwall 0: Davies sends Bantams back into top six

Steven Davies, just four minutes after being brought off the bench, netted the winner with a close range header.

It was the fourth goal that the striker has scored for the Bantams, and all of them have come as a substitute.

His winner was enough to see Bradford leapfrog over Barnsley into sixth place and move Phil Parkinson’s men to within a point of Millwall in fifth.

Chances were few and far between in difficult conditions, the swirling wind making constructive football something of a task.

Set-pieces seemed as likely as anything to bring a goal and City came within an inch or two of breaking the deadlock when Tony McMahon’s free-kick whistled just beyond the post.

At the other end, Millwall also went close when a Reece Burke, starting after being released from England duty by the Under-20s coaching staff, handball was followed by a free-kick by Joe Martin that fizzed just wide.

Otherwise, the first half was slim pickings in terms of chances with the next best opening for Bradford coming just after the half-hour mark when Billy Knott fired wide after an exchange of passes with McMahon.

For the Lions, meanwhile, Aiden O’Brien made a hash of a shot in stoppage time when picked out by Steve Morison.

City did get the ball in the net six minutes after the restart through Jamie Proctor but the celebrations were cut short by the linesman’s flag, the striker adjudged to have been offside when collecting a pass from Billy Clarke following a scramble.

Billy Clarke had a deflected shot easily saved by Jordan Archer as the game moved into the final quarter before the breakthrough came ten minutes from time.

Whether the move was planned is debatable, as James Meredith took a quick throw-in to Nathan Clarke as the defender raced over to the touchline to send over his own long throw.

Whether expecting it or not Clarke was unfazed, hitting a first time cross that Davies headed in from close range.

The Lions looked to have fashioned a chance of their own a couple of minutes later but Natha Clarke pulled off a stunning last gasp tackle on Lee Gregory just as the former FC Halifax Town man shaped to shoot.

Ben Williams then saved brilliantly from Morison to ensure the points stayed in West Yorkshire and set Bradford up nicely for Monday’s trip to bottom club Crewe Alexandra.