New-look defence key to Bantams avoiding drop out of league

Less than three weeks ago, City were struggling to pull clear of the relegation zone and their problems were exacerbated when first choice goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin and central defenders Luke Oliver and Andrew Davies were sent off following the brawl at the end of their 2-1 home defeat against Crawley.

The loss of these key players through suspension could have derailed their survival battle, but home wins against promotion-contenders Southend and relegation-threatened Macclesfield and an away victory at Northampton have banished any fears of relegation.

In fact, in five matches since that infamous Crawley match, City’s new-look defence, featuring goalkeeper Matt Duke, recalled from his loan spell at Northampton, and Guy Branston, restored to the team after being out of favour, have conceded only three goals.

Manager Phil Parkinson admitted that ‘grinding out’ a 1-0 win against bottom club Macclesfield, without a win since New Year’s Eve, had not been pretty, but added: “They came here fighting for their lives. You expect them to be very strong and very solid and we had to deal with them.

“We were the better side in the first half and in the second half we had more pressure and deserved a goal.”

In a match full of endeavour, but few scoring chances, it was left to leading scorer James Hanson to break the deadlock in the 65th minute with a close-range header at the far post from Chris Fagan’s free-kick.

The ball hit Ben Mills as the visitors’ striker tried to clear but Hanson claimed the goal as City fans celebrated.

Bradford City: Duke, Ramsden, Branston, Oliver, Kozluk, Fagan, Jones, Ravenhill, Reid (Flynn 69), Wells (Smalley 83), Hanson. Unused substitutes: McLaughlin, Bullock, Syers.

Macclesfield Town: Veiga, Daniel, Brown, Futcher (Smith 73), Mendy, Hamshaw, Chalmers (Fairhurst 76), Wedgbury, Draper, Ben Mills (Tomlinson 73), Marshall. Unused substitutes: Bateson, Andrew Mills.

Referee: G Ward (Surrey).

Man of the match: Guy Branston.