Bradford are hitting Hopkin’s targets as they move out of bottom four
Posted Sunday, December 23, 2018 by PA
David Hopkin revealed he asked his Bradford side to be out of the bottom four in League One for Christmas and he is delighted they obliged.
The Bantams’ revival continued with a third home win in a row – a 2-0 victory over 10-man Scunthorpe, managed by former Bradford player and manager Stuart McCall, who was applauded all the way to the dug-out by the home fans.
First-half goals from on-loan Huddersfield midfielder Jack Payne and striker Eoin Doyle – from the penalty spot – made sure of a deserved victory and only desperate defending and some top-class saves from goalkeeper Jak Alnwick prevented them from scoring more goals.
Man-of-the-match Payne fired Bradford in front with a low left-foot shot in the 10th minute after Doyle put him through and Doyle increased their lead in the 26th minute after Alnwick brought down George Miller.
This was Scunthorpe’s sixth league and cup defeat in a row and they slip into the bottom four below Bradford on goal difference. To compound their misery they had half-time substitute Cameron Burgess sent off in the 66th minute for a rash tackle on Lewis O’Brien.
Bradford were bottom of the table before last Saturday’s 4-0 home win over Walsall, and Hopkin said: “I asked the players to be out of the bottom four for Christmas and we’ve done that.
“We’ve won and other results have gone our way, but not many people would have given us a chance to do that.
“Scunthorpe started the game well and created chances, but after that we controlled the game. We have been playing like that for four weeks.
“The back four have been fantastic and they have created a good platform for us to go and play our football.
“We’re getting stronger and fitter as a group and the players are starting to gel and believe in what they are doing. They deserve great credit for that.”
McCall, whose second spell as Bradford manager ended when he was controversially sacked last February, said: “I appreciated the gesture by the supporters before the game. It was humbling and impressive, but I just wanted to get on with the game.
“As far we were concerned it was the same old movie, the same old record. We’ve got some players missing, but there is no excuse for the way we are defending. We gave them Christmas presents.
“We started the game well but individual defensive errors are killing us and the lack of depth in the squad means we can’t make too many changes.
“It’s a tough challenge. January can’t come quickly enough. The chairman couldn’t be more supportive and he realises the defects we’ve got. We are lacking in a few areas and we’re not getting a foothold in the game.
“Bradford have got some good players and the atmosphere from their point of view was terrific.”
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