Coventry 0 Bradford City 0: Bantams thwarted at Sixfields as Stead goes close

Bradford were completely on top in the first half and, but for a couple of fine saves from Joe Murphy in the Coventry goal, might have led at the break.

The Irishman leapt to his left to keep out Aaron Mclean’s downward header from a Carl McHugh cross.

And he stood firm as Jon Stead fired goalwards after latching onto a neat through ball from Kyle Bennett.

Murphy handed Stead a second opportunity when he flapped at Matty Dolan’s long ball forward, but the loan striker could only lift his shot over the bar.

Early in the game Dolan and Gary Jones had both tried their luck from distance while another Dolan effort was deflected wide.

Coventry had to wait until the final minute of the half for their first shot, a Cyrus Christie left footer that was saved comfortably by Jon McLaughlin.

Reach headed against the bar from a Kyle Bennett cross six minutes after the break.

But the Bantams were unable to create the number of chances they did in the opening 45 minutes, Stead lifting a shot over the bar from a Mclean flick and Mclean then fired into the side netting from Carl McHugh’s knock down.

Coventry did not come close at the other end, a Marshall cross that flashed across the six yard box the most alarming moment for the Bantams’ defence.

Coventry City: Murphy, Willis, Webster, Christie, Adams; Clarke, Thomas, Robinson (Thomas 76), Marshall (McGeouch 79); Prutton, Moussa, Eccleston (Delfounso 76). Unused substitutes: Burge, Garner, Haynes, Finch

Bradford City: McLaughin; Darby, McHugh, McArdle, Davies; Jones, Dolan (Atkinson 79), Bennett (Thompson 84), Reach; Stead, Mclean. Unused substitutes: Bentley, Yeates, Bates, McBurnie, Pollard.

Referee: Chris Foy (St Helens).

Adam Johnson admits time is running out fast if Sunderland are to spare themselves from another relegation from the Barclays Premier League.

The Black Cats remain four points adrift of safety as a result of Monday night’s 2-1 home defeat to West Ham, and Johnson said: “The games are running out and we have got some tough ones coming up. There are still eight games and points to play for. We have just got to stick together and keep trying to do the right things.”