Gillingham 0 Bradford City 1: Parkinson delights in both result and display

The winger touched the ball home at the near post from close range following Gary Jones’s corner.

While it proved to be the only goal of the game, City had plenty of other chances in an impressive away display.

“I was so pleased because it was an all-round performance,” said manager Phil Parkinson.

“We really should have scored more goals – we had so many opportunities to kill the game off.

“But as we always say, 1-0 is a good result away from home because you have had to show a lot of good qualities as a team to make sure you get the result.

“I thought some of the defending was outstanding.

“To win we knew we had to be flat out, high intensity and closing down all over the pitch and when we had the ball we had to play with calmness on it as well.

“We got both sides of the game right.”

Even before City bagged their early goal, Nahki Wells had an effort saved and Kyel Reid had a shot blocked.

Reid continued to cause Gillingham endless problems down the left, James Hanson missed a good chance just past the half-hour mark and Wells had a second-half effort tipped onto the bar by Stuart Nelson.

At the other end, Jon McLaughlin pulled off a brilliant save to deny Adam Barrett before the break and City survived a flurry of late Gillingham corners.

Gillingham: Nelson; Martin, Harriman, Barrett, Legge; Hollands, Linganzi, Lee (Whelpdale 66 ), Weston (German 76); Akinfenwa (Kedwell 58mins), McDonald. Unused substitutes: Davies, Allen, Dack, Howard.

Bradford City: McLaughlin; Darby, Meredith, Davies, McArdle; Jones, Doyle, Reid (Yeates 79), Thompson; Hanson, Wells (Connell 90). Unused substitutes: Ravenhill, Oliver, Gray, Ripley, De Vita.

Referee: L Collins (Surrey)

Man of the match: Kyel Reid