Bradford City 2 Oxford United 1: Bantams secure first home win of 2012 as drop fears are eased

The win – City’s first at Valley Parade in 2012 – brought to an end a run of five successive home draws and manager Phil Parkinson said: “Oxford are a good side and I am sure manager Chris Wilder will get them into the play-offs, but we deserved our win.

“I thought we played really well in the first half.”

After some scrappy recent matches at Valley Parade, City began brightly, earning Wilder’s praise for the ‘heavy bombardment’ they put the visitors under, but had nothing to show for that positive start despite having two penalty claims turned down, three shots cleared off the line while acting captain Craig Fagan had the ball in the net only to be ruled offside.

The turning point came in the 39th minute when Oxford right-back Damian Batt was sent off for a second bookable offence against City’s man of the match, lively winger Kyel Reid.

Bradford took advantage of having an extra man and went in front after 56 minutes when Andrew Whing brought down defender Marcel Seip and former Hull City striker Fagan scored from the spot.

Substitute, fit-again James Hanson, scored the second after 67 minutes with a downward header from Reid’s cross before Asa Hall pulled one back for the visitors, deceiving home goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin with a 20-yard shot to set up a tense finale.

However, City not only survived, but ought to have added a third when Hanson volleyed wide from Reid’s cross four minutes from the end.

Bradford City: McLaughlin, Kozluk, Oliver, Davies, Seip, Atkinson (Hanson 57), Bullock, Jones, Reid, Wells (Hannah 81), Fagan (Syers 70). Unused substitutes: Annerson, Fry.

Oxford United: Clarke, Batt, Duberry, Wright, Tonkin (Davis 70), Morgan, Whing, Hall, Chapman (Worley 84), Holmes, Rendell (Johnson 68). Unused substitutes: Brown, Wilson.

Referee: C Webster (Northumberland).

Man of the match: Kyel Reid.