Bowyer refusing to give up on Bradford’s survival hopes

Posted Sunday, April 07, 2019 by PA

Gary Bowyer is not giving up on Bradford’s fight for League One survival despite seeing the Bantams suffer their fifth defeat in a row – 1-0 against play-off contenders Doncaster Rovers at Valley Parade.

It is a result that leaves Bradford marooned at the bottom of the table, seven points adrift of safety with only five games left to play.

A tight game of few clear-cut chances was decided in the 73rd minute when Mallik Wilks raced forward before beating the diving Richard O’Donnell with a low left-foot shot.

Bowyer, who this week signed a new two-year contract with Bradford, was left to rue the fact that their best effort – a flashing header from leading scorer Eoin Doyle – hit the post in the ninth minute.

“It was a cross from Billy Clarke and a great header from Eoin Doyle which hits the inside of the post,” he said.

“This is where we are in terms of luck at the moment, but we cannot feel sorry for ourselves. We just need to dust ourselves down and start working again.

“Our game plan was superb and well executed, but then we lost the ball in the corner and it ends up in the back of the net. It is the sign of a good team from Doncaster’s point of view, but it just shows how things are at the top and the bottom of the table.

“We were the better team, but they had one shot on target and won the game with it.

“Our supporters were magnificent and stuck with us all the way through today. They are proud of their club and rightly so and we will be working hard to give them something to be proud of.

“We have a big summer ahead of us, but I am not giving up on these last five games.”

Doncaster manager Grant McCann said: “We were not at our best, but we found a way to get the job done.

“I don’t like 1-0s – I prefer 3-2 or 4-3 wins, but in terms of our defensive work we were very good. It is all about wins at this stage of the season and we got that today. We restricted them at one end of the pitch and got our reward at the other end.”

The result leaves Doncaster in sixth place, five points clear of McCann’s former club Peterborough, but he said: “There are five games to go and we are not looking too far ahead. We are taking it one game at a time. Everyone put in 100 per cent and it was a big three points.”

McCann had a special word of praise for match winner Wilks. “You always know something is going to happen when Mallik has the ball at his feet.”