Bradford City: Mark Hughes seeking big fans’ backing when ambitious Bantams return

The Bradford manager, who was speaking after seeing his side end a disappointing season with their third win in a row – 2-0 over Carlisle – is planning to build a team that will thrive at the best supported club in League Two

A bumper crowd of 18,283. the biggest for a fourth tier match at Valley Parade saw Lee Angol give City a 13th-minute lead, diverting Charles Vernam’s shot into the net before Jamie Walker made sure of the points with a right foot shot in the 70th minute.

Hughes who plans a busy summer of recruitment said; “People will say it is a difficult place to play if you are not playing well, but the reality for me is that the crowd has been fantastic since the day I walked in. I have had huge support

“It is clearly going to be massive for us next season. We have got to come to Valley Parade and turn teams over.

“If we have really strong home form next season then it is going to go a long way towards whether we can actually sustain a real challenge.

“Clearly in the recruitment of players we are looking for ones who can deal with the demands and expectations of the club and thrive in that environment.

“If we can get it right then we are going to have a good year.”

Hughes was delighted with the win – only Bradford’s sixth home victory of the season – but said: “We should have won by more, but it was still a good performance and I am very happy,”

Bradford City: Bass, Hendrie, O’Connor, Songo’o, Foulds, Watt, Gilliead, Pereira, Walker (Cooke 77), Angol (Cook 64), Vernam (Eisa 71). Unused substitutes: O’Donnell (gk), Evans, Sutton, Kelleher.

Carlisle United: Howard, Ellis, Whelan, Feeney, Mellish, Amer (Roberts 70), Gibson, Alessandra, Dickensen, Patrick, Dennis (Omotoye 81). Unused substitutes: Norman (gk), Devine, Simeu, Carr, Kilsby.

Referee: James Bell (Sheffield)