Bradford City were blown off course at Carlisle United, bemoans Mark Trueman

MARK Trueman admitted his Bradford side were caught out by the elements after they suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time since December.
Bradford managers Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars on the touchline (Picture: Simon Hulme)Bradford managers Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars on the touchline (Picture: Simon Hulme)
Bradford managers Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars on the touchline (Picture: Simon Hulme)

Offrande Zanzala’s brace, after Rhys Bennett’s opener, stretched the Bantams’ winless run to three games. Gareth Evans’ strike deflected off Paudie O’Connor as the visitors grabbed a second-half consolation.

“Wind played a factor in the first half and they played it well,” admitted Trueman.

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“They had two set plays, put a lot of bodies around the keeper and pressured us.

Gareth Evans of Bradford City. (Picture: George Wood/Getty Images)Gareth Evans of Bradford City. (Picture: George Wood/Getty Images)
Gareth Evans of Bradford City. (Picture: George Wood/Getty Images)

“We’ve got to do better, we’ve got to stay a bit closer to our men during those set plays.

“In the second half we gave it a go. We changed formation to go a bit more direct to play those conditions and then the wind stopped.

“We’re disappointedwith how we managed key moments of the game.”

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Bradford goalkeeper Sam Hornby was tested early on from Callum Guy’s volley.

Guy was the provider as Bennett headed home his corner in the 37th minute.

And the Bantams soon found themselves two behind when Zanzala scrambled home. Things went from bad to worse for Bradford when Zanzala lost his marker to glance Brennan Dickenson’s cross beyond Hornby. The Bantams briefly rallied as Evans’ effort deflected off O’Connor and into the back of the net. Andy Cook squandered a great chance to set up a frantic finish when his chipped effort went wide.

Carlisle United: Farman, Tanner, Bennett, McDonald, Riley (Hayden, 81), Guy, Armer, Dickenson (Patrick, 89), Mellish, Alessandra, Zanzala (Toure, 77). Unused substitutes: Norman, Anderton, Charters, Walters.

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Bradford City: Hornby, Wood, Canavan, P. O’Connor, A. O’Connor, Watt (Stevens, 67), Sutton (Scales, 78), Crankshaw (Rowe, 45), Evans, Vernam (Clarke, 66), Cook. Unused substitutes: O’Donnell, Donaldson, Cousin-Dawson.

Referee: O Yates (Staffordshire).

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