Dagenham & Red 1 Bradford City 0: Parkinson bemoans lack of discipline as Bantams’ unbeaten run is ended

The Bantams’ four-match unbeaten run came to an end with Matthew Saunders’s 71st-minute free-kick having won it for the hosts.

“If we had kept our discipline, stayed on our feet and not given away that free-kick we’d be talking about a well-earned point, that was the disappointing factor,” moaned Parkinson, who employed an attacking 4-3-3 formation.

“We were a little flat in terms of the way we have played on our travels recently.

“But when you’re like that as a team it is important you grind out a result and I felt we should have done that.

“It was a scrappy game. Dagenham make it very difficult for you. We gave away too many free-kicks, which I was disappointed with because I knew the strength of Dagenham was their set-plays.

“In the first half we had moments of good play, created some good chances. But they’re very direct. Their open play we coped fine with, but the areas they put it in means they win so many corners and there are so many challenges and second balls to win all over the pitch.”

Midfielder Lee Bullock went close for the visitors with two headers in the first half but Daggers had the better of the second period and took the lead when Saunders struck after some sustained pressure.

Late on, Bantams goalkeeper John McLaughlin denied Jon Nurse from close range and thwarted substitute Brian Woodall with two saves at full stretch.

Dagenham climbed out of the bottom two with this win.

Dagenham & Redbridge: Bond, Doe, Spillane, Arber, McCrory, Nurse, Ogogo, Saunders (Bingham 72), Reeves (Woodalll 63), Elito, Scott. Unused substitutes: Lewington, Rose, Green.

Bradford City: McLaughlin, Kozluk, Davies, Oliver, Fry, Ravenhill, Bullock, Jones (Wells 74), Smalley (Atkinson 60), Fagan (Haworth 86), Reid. Unused substitutes: Annerson, Mitchell.

Referee: J Linnington (Newport).

Man of the match: Jon McLaughlin.