Bradford claim fourth win in five to keep up momentum

Posted Wednesday, January 02, 2019 by PA

Bradford’s revival continued as they claimed a 3-1 win against Accrington – their fourth victory in five matches.

The Bantams, who were bottom of Sky Bet League One less than a month ago, have scored 13 goals in their last five games and conceded only one – in the 1-0 defeat at Sunderland on Boxing Day.

Accrington dominated the early stages, but it was Bradford who took the lead in the 21st minute through Lewis O’Brien.

Jack Payne’s goal-bound left-foot shot hit a defender and went behind for a corner on the right and that led to the goal. Payne’s short corner found O’Brien unmarked on the edge of the penalty area and he scored with a fine shot.

The visitors were reduced to 10 men five minutes later when Offrande Zanzala was sent off for a poor challenge on O’Brien, which resulted in the 19-year-old midfielder having to be substituted with a foot injury.

Bradford took advantage of their extra man on the half hour when Eoin Doyle hammered the ball into the net from 15 yards through a crowded goalmouth to give them a 2-0 half-time lead.

They increased their advantage in the 49th minute when man-of-the-match Payne laid the ball into the path of substitute Connor Wood and he scored with a superb left-foot strike into the top corner from 20 yards.

Michael Ihiekwe and skipper Sean McConville had Accrington’s best second-half efforts, but home goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell had few direct shots to save.