Bantams fall victims of smash and grab raid

For they saw City lose their 100 per cent home record despite dominating a match between two of League Two’s early pace-setters, frequently outplaying their rivals only to be frustrated by Vale’s solid defence, in which Chris Neal made some outstanding saves.

One of the best came as early as the first minute when he blocked Bermudan international Nahki Wells’s shot with his legs and, then, when City made a desperate bid for an equaliser in stoppage time, he first turned a shot from Wells over the crossbar and then stopped James Hanson’s header on the line.

Ironically, it was a mistake by Bradford’s outstanding player this season, captain Gary Jones, that led to the only goal of the match. The 35-year-old midfield player, a summer signing from Rochdale, saw his headed back pass intercepted by Port Vale’s leading scorer, former Rotherham forward Tom Pope, and he beat goalkeeper John McLaughlin with a left-foot shot from just inside the penalty area.

However, Bantams manager Phil Parkinson remained positive in defeat. “It is frustrating to lose, but I don’t think we could have done much more,” he said.

“We started terrifically well and then conceded a bad goal, but I can’t fault the lads. Some of our football in the first half was exceptional and our numerous crosses and attempts on goal would have usually given us two or three goals, but Port Vale defended well.”

Bradford City: McLaughlin, McArdle, Davies, Oliver (Connell 81), Meredith, Atkinson (Hines 62), Jones, Doyle, Reid (Thompson 87), Hanson, Wells. Unused substitutes: Duke, Darby, Ravenhill, McHugh.

Port Vale: Neal, Duffy (Yates 74), McCombe, McDonald, Taylor, Myrie Williams, Loft, Burge, Vincent (Morsy 84), Pope, Dodds. Unused substitutes: Johnson, Owen, Shuker, Williamson, Lloyd.

Referee: P Tierney (Wigan).

Man of the match: Nathan Doyle.