Bolton 1 Bradford City 2: Stuart McCall will keep feet on the ground after Cup win

BANTAMS chief Stuart McCall refused to get carried away by victory at Bolton.
Bradford City manager Stuart McCall: Delighted.Bradford City manager Stuart McCall: Delighted.
Bradford City manager Stuart McCall: Delighted.

Goals from Lee Novak and a header from substitute Harry Pritchard took City through to the second round.

“We are not getting carried away as we know there will be bumps in the road, but it is the start we wanted and deserved,” said McCall.

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“It was a positive start to the season. We put in a good, promising performance in lots of ways. We scored two brilliant goals and created chances throughout.

“At times we got forward well and showed a lot of confidence. Bolton put on the pressure in the second half and we defended really well when we needed to. But Harry Pritchard has been excellent for us and we know he has always got a goal in him.”

Pritchard converted Anthony O’Connor’s cross after 75 minutes, 14 minutes after his introduction for Bantam’s talisman striker Billy Clarke.

Goalkeeper Billy Crellin, one of 10 Bolton debutants in Ian Evatt’s first starting line-up, had denied Clarke and Novak before the latter converted Tyler French’s 26th-minute cross from eight yards.

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Wanderers hit back with Ricardo Alemeida Santos chipping against the bar and Nathan Delfouneso being denied by goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell.

Less than 60 seconds after the restart, Bolton levelled. New captain Antoni Sarcevic marked his debut from Plymouth by side-footing home from 10 yards.

But City won it when Pritchard peeled away to head home.

Bolton Wanderers: Crellin, Santos, Baptiste, Taft, Jones, Comley (Crawford 68); White, Gordon (Miller 81), Sarcevic, Doyle, Delfouneso. Unused substitutes: Delaney, Hickman, Tutte, Alexander, Amoateng.

Bradford City: O’Donnell, Anthony O’Connor, Paudie O’Connor, Staunton; French, Watt, Cooke, Wood, Clarke (Pritchard 62), Novak; Guthrie (Donaldson 72). Unused substitutes:Longridge, Richards-Everton, Ismail, Hornby, Scales.

Referee: M Coy (County Durham).

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