Bradford City 3 Huddersfield Town 1: A Bobby dazzler for Pointon as Terriers pay the derby price
BRADFORD is our home, read the giant banner in the Kop at Valley Parade and it was a house of pain for Huddersfield Town in their derby reunion.
In front of a record modern-day crowd of 24,075 at the venue, those in Bradford City colours lapped it all up. The mood among the 2,799 Town followers was somewhat darker.
It was a day for Bradfordians and most definitely Low Moor lad Bobby Pointon, who had another chapter to his storybook by way of a derby double.
He claimed the matchball, with it now up to the EFL’s dubious goals panel to see if he got a faint touch to City’s killer third. Video replays indicated he might have.
Pointon definitely got the first on 18 minutes.
Despite trailing, Town were still very much in the game, heading up to the interval.
But they imploded twice as Pointon and Josh Neufville struck and that was pretty much that for Town, who were sent out early in the second half by a clearly nonplussed Lee Grant.
On their first meeting in 6,916 days, Bradford were afforded the afternoon to remember.
Town scored a late consolation, courtesy of debutant Zepiqueno Redmond, four minutes after coming off the break. It was a sole crumb of solace.
As derbies go, it was actually a proper contest for the first 45 minutes.
Unfortunately, from Huddersfield’s perspective, halves last a bit longer and two concessions in stoppage-time when their backline went to pieces provided the narrative and a joyous one for those of a claret and amber persuasion.
Town, despite some decent work going forward, with Leo Castledine showing threat in particular, looked susceptible in their backline and the host’s goals were all preventable.
The visitors - who won a flurry of early corners - had started the better and went close when Joe Taylor’s shot clipped the bar.
City’s punters were entitled to feel a little nervous. Pointon soon provided the balm.
It was a polished move from the Bantams. But the defending left a lot to be desired.
Aden Baldwin’s sweeping pass found Neufville on the right flank. He supplied Matt Pennington, whose ball inside found Max Power.
His clever pass around the corner was flicked on delightfully by Sarcevic to Neufville. His ball found Will Swan in space and he perceptively spotted the unmarked Pointon for a simple finish on 18 minutes.
Town were opened up down their left with Sean Roughan and Murray Wallace not covering themselves in glory.
City - who lost Alex Pattison to concussion on the half-hour after copping a clearance from Neufville flush in the face - were the better side for the remainder of the first half. But Town still had their moments and were well in the game, only to hit the self-destruct button in first half stoppage time.
First, Baldwin’s cross on the right was won by Sarcevic, who beat Wallace in the air and Lasse Sorensen switched off at the far post and allowed Pointon to gleefully slide in for 2-0.
It got worse for the visitors.
Swan shrugged off Josh Low and slotted the ball to Sarcevic. He spotted Neufville in space down the right and his low centre managed to find its way into the net without a touch, despite Pointon challenging Nicholls.
For City, the second half was about management. They did not have to chase things.
Town hauled off Ruben Rooksen at the interval, while Bojan Radulovic and Alfie May arrived relatively early in the second period.
A measure of Town frustration saw Castledine, Ryan Ledson and Herbie Kane - who later went off with an injury issue - all booked.
The game was all but over and it was only those in home colours who were enjoying the fare as those in the away section started to make for the exits early.
The impressive Swan hit the bar with a first-timer. Three was more than enough for the hosts.
Town, to their credit, did have a go late on and reduced the arrears when Redmond netted from close range after fellow substitute Bojan Radulovic’s knock-back following a corner from Alfie May, another replacement.
Nicholls denied City a fourth when he tipped over Power’s chip.
Bradford City: Walker; Pennington, Baldwin (Halliday 76), Touray, Neuville, Pattison (Leigh 30), Power, T Wright; Sarcevic (Kelly 93), Pointon (Cook 93); Swan (Powell 76). Substitutes unused: Hilton, Lapslie.
Huddersfield Town: Nicholls; Sorensen, Low, Wallace, Roughan; Ledson, Kane (Kasumu 64); Harness (Radulovic 56), Castledine (Redmond 76), Roosken (Alves HT), Taylor (May 56). Substitutes unused: Litherland, Feeney.
Referee: S Oldham (Lancashire).
Attendance: 24,075 (2,799 Huddersfield Town supporters).