Port Vale 0 Bradford City 2: 'We’re off to Tottenham, you’re off to York' sing delighted Bantams fans after cruise

Forty-five times in total now.

It was also a milestone night for one City player in Bobby Pointon. His ninth goal of the campaign was his first on the road in 2025-26 - and put the visitors on their way after 11 minutes.

Witnessing his side starting to get some more tangible rewards on the road was the only thing that Graham Alexander was interested in and not accomplishments.

After seeing his side get little for their efforts so far away from Valley Parade in 2026 - aside from a win in Blackpool in early January - City finally backed up a dominant performance with points in the bank and started to address their perceived travel ailments. An encore at Wigan would be nice now.

They passed up several opportunities to nail the outcome in the Potteries before Tyreik Wright’s fantastic strike from distance on 66 minutes against a rock-bottom Vale side, who came crashing down to earth with a bump after their FA Cup highs against Premier League Sunderland.

Here, they were simply outclassed. Vale have not won at home at league level since New Year’s Day.

City, who made one enforced change with Ibou Touray replacing the suspended Aden Baldwin - with Curtis Tilt moving into the middle of the back three - came into the game with just one away win to their name in 2026 and five successive defeats on the road.

You would not have guessed that at half-time, with the visitors dominating the opening half and mustering 18 goal attempts - with six on target.

They got to grips with the difficult surface pretty quickly and started to find gaps, particularly out wide on the big pitch - and puncture holes in Vale’s flaky backline, who were hardly given any protection by the midfielders in front of them.

After Vale’sr cup highs against Sunderland, it was very much a case of ‘After the Lord Mayor’s Show’ for sure, with the only quibble from a City perspective being that they were restricted to one goal when they could - and perhaps should - have put the game to bed. They should definitely have been a couple of goals to the good.

The opener when it came was sharply taken by Pointon, who was first to a rebound after the busy Joe Gauci turned away Tyreik Wright’s thumping drive.

Both Wright and fellow wing-back Josh Neufville caused Vale a fair few problems as did the industry of Pointon and craft of Antoni Sarcevic, with Max Power and Jenson Metcalfe controlling proceedings just behind them.

Feted for downing Sunderland in the cup on Sunday, Newcastle fan Ben Waine’s big contribution was an early clearance off the line to deny Matt Pennington after an inventive short corner routine involving Wright and Pointon.

Vale’s goal continued to load a charmed life as City settled quickly.

Ethan Wheatley’s angst in front of goal unfortunately continued when he profited on an error from Connor Hall and surged clear, only to be thwarted by the onrushing Gauci, who spent a loan spell at Barnsley last term.

City persisted, with Neufville shooting over and Pointon denied by the legs of Gauci after Wright had too much power and pace for ex-Bradford trialist Tyler Magloire before Vale were finally breached.

The visitors remained firmly in the box seat, with Gauci getting his angles right to keep out Wheatley’s angled low shot ahead of the break.

A triple interval substitution from the hosts was a barometer of how the first half went from manager Jon Brady’s vantage point.

City, attacking their 1,135 travelling fans, needed that second goal to kill things. It has been a bit of an issue for them on the road at times this term.

The scoreboard also provided some encouragement for Vale, given a pretty poor opening period.

A half-decent chance arrived at the back stick for substitute Ethan Archer, but his effort lacked direction and power and straightaway, Guaci was again called upon to block Wheatley’s shot at his near post at the other end.

City pushed and probed. There were half-chances for Sarcevic and Pointon. A second was proving stubborn in coming, but when it did it was spectacular with a simply unstoppable drive from just outside the box from Wright flying into the roof of the net in stunning fashion midway through the half.

“We’re off to Tottenham, you’re off to York” was the delicious chant from the delighted away end and it was the cue for Alexander to make changes, with the job done.

For the time being, City, and their sell-out 4,600 following, are off to Wigan on Saturday. They will do so in a happy mood.

Vale’s first on-target shot arrived on 82 minutes. Ironic cheers followed. Humphrys went close to a third for City.

Port Vale: Gauci; Magloire (Gordon 61), John, C Hall; Gabriel, Walters (Shipley HT), Ojo (Ward HT), Campbell; Waine (Archer HT), G Hall; Gray (Brown 84). Substitutes unused: Amos, Hernandez.

Bradford City: Walker; Pennington, Tilt, Touray; Neufville (Ashby 80), Metcalfe, Power, T Wright; Sarcevic (Swan 70), Pointon (Humphrys 70); Wheatley (Mullin 70). Substitutes unused: Hilton, J Wright, Evans.

Referee: P Howard (London)

Attendance: 6,198 (1,135 Bradford City supporters).