Points make prizes: Performance secondary for Stuart McCall as Bradford City return to winning ways

PLAY-OFF chasing Bradford City finally got back to winning ways as they saw off struggling Port Vale.
Bradford City's manager Stuart McCall.
 Picture: Jonathan GawthorpeBradford City's manager Stuart McCall.
 Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe
Bradford City's manager Stuart McCall. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe

Substitute Alex Jones, who spent time on loan at Port Vale earlier this season, came back to haunt his former club as he ended the Bantams’ four-game winless run.

Romain Vincelot had given the visitors the lead at Vale Park, before JJ Hooper levelled after the break.

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“We knew this game was all about the result,” reflected City chief McCall, whose side leapfrogged Southend United into fifth place.

Bradford City's Alex Jones.Bradford City's Alex Jones.
Bradford City's Alex Jones.

“We have probably played better this season and not won, but we know the result is the main thing at this stage of the season.

“We’ve created a number of good chances and we just hoped they wouldn’t come back to haunt us. Vale are fighting for their lives at the bottom, so we knew they would come back at us.”

The Bantams had a flurry of early chances as Billy Clarke grazed the post, before firing over.

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The visitors have been working on their set-plays and they provided the opener as French defender Vincelot lost his marker at the back post to head home Tony McMahon’s free-kick four minutes before the break.

Bradford City's Alex Jones.Bradford City's Alex Jones.
Bradford City's Alex Jones.

After drawing three of their last four, the inevitable happened as loanee Hooper turned the ball past Colin Doyle from close range on the hour mark.

However, McCall’s men were not to be denied as Jones, who had only been on the pitch for two minutes, latched onto Alex Gilliead’s cross to score.

Port Vale: Fasan, Purkiss, Smith, Pugh, Rosa, Eagles (Shodipo, 71), Guy, Foley, Thomas (Shalaj, 85), Forrester (Turner, 78), Hooper. Unused substitutes: Boot, Tanser, Amoros, Kelly.

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Bradford City: Doyle, McMahon, McArdle, Knight-Percival, Meredith, Vincelot, Clarke (Gilliead, 60), Law (Jones, 72), Cullen, Wyke (Dieng, 77), Hiwula. Unused substitutes: Sattelmaier, Darby, Toner, Devine.

Referee: M Heywood (West Yorkshire).

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