Oxford United 1 Bradford City 1: Hannah’s benchmark as Bantams battle back to earn a point

BRADFORD chief Peter Jackson saluted his on-song side as they claimed a valuable point at the Kassam Stadium.

The Bantams bravely battled back from a goal down, with an inspired substitution paying off.

Jackson gave former Matlock hitman Ross Hannah his chance in the 74th minute and saw him ghost in four minutes later to prod home from five yards after Nialle Rodney flicked the ball on.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Oxford chief Chris Wilder was adamant the referee missed a clear push on centre-half Michael Duberry by Luke Oliver, which left Hannah free to equalise.

Jackson reflected: “I think a draw was a fair result. This is a really tough place to come, so to go 1-0 down and make the subs we did, and then come away with a point is a great achievement.

“In the first half, we gave Oxford too much time and space and allowed them to play around us.”

It was Hannah’s first goal for the Bantams and Jackson said: “Ross was desperate to get off the mark. He’d not scored pre-season, and missed two very good chances in one game.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It’s always nice as a striker with his reputation for goals to get that first one.

“I signed him because there’s something about him. I’m sure he’ll get goals, but as a club we’ll be delighted if he gets 10-12 goals this season.”

Oxford took the lead in the 28th minute with an outstanding goal from former Barnsley midfielder Simon Heslop, who drove through the centre and then fired a low shot past Martin Hansen from 25 yards.

But the U’s went off the boil in the second half, Oliver planted a free header wide at a corner, and Ryan Clarke saved well from Michael Flynn’s glancing header.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Flynn, who pulled the strings in midfield, had also gone close in the first half with a fiercely-driven free-kick.

Oxford United: Clarke, Duberry, Wright, Hall (Leven 71), Whing, Heslop (Pitman 80), Potter (Constable 67), Payne, Davis, Smalley, Guy. Unused substitutes: Batt, Worley

Bradford City: Hansen, Branston, Oliver, Moore, Threlfall, Flynn, Jones (Hannah 74), Compton, Mitchell, Stewart (Bryan 66), Hanson (Rodney 58). Unused substitutes: Jansson, Hunt.

Referee: J Adcock (Notts).

Man of the match: Ross Hannah.