Northampton 0 Bradford 1: Wells reaches double figures for Bantams

Wells latched onto a James Hanson flick to force the ball home from close range just eight minutes into the second half of a physical encounter.

City, watched by Wigan boss Roberto Martinez whose side entertain the Bantams in the Capital One Cup next Tuesday night, nullified the threat posed by the bombs launched by midfielder Ben Tozer.

And it was the visitors who had the better chances in a goalless first half with Craig Forsyth seeing a well-struck effort deflected behind for a corner and Hanson having an effort from a Forsyth corner cleared off the line.

Northampton’s main weapon was the long throw of Tozer which City dealt with pretty comfortably for much of the game, Andrew Davies in particular doing well under intense pressure.

Alex Nicholls tried his luck from 25 yards out, but the ball slipped wide and Kemar Roofe was unable to get on the end of a speculative diagonal ball into the penalty area.

After Wells had fired City in front they had the chance to add to their lead, but Hanson fired over after the keeper had spilled a Fortsyth thunderbold and Will Atkinson was denied after he latched onto a Wells pull back.

City keeper had just pone real save to make and that cam with 14 minutes remaining when he tipped a Louis Moult effort over the bar.

Northampton Town: L Nicholls; East, Widdowson, Langmead, Charles; Tozer, A Nicholls, Roofe, Huws; Platt (Moult 68), Akinfenwa. Unused substitutes: Higgs, Demontagnac, Mukendi, Wilson, Hornby, Dias.

Bradford City: McLaughlin; McArdle, Meredith, Davies Oliver; Thompson, Ravenhill, Doyle, Forsyth (Atkinson 78); Hanson, Wells. Unused substitutes: Duke, Darby, R Jones, McHugh, Connell, Hines.

Referee: G Scott (Oxfordshire).