Bradford City got back to winning ways on Saturday in their first league game since the 2-1 loss to Barnsley on Tuesday night, in the second round of the Johnston Paint Trophy. City claimed all three points with a 1-0 away victory against Doncaster Rovers with over 2,500 travelling fans there to witness the victory.
The Bantams began with the same starting 11 from the Rochdale win and took an early lead at the Keepmoat stadium with less than one minute on the clock. A Lee Evans throw in was flicked on by Rory McCardle to find Devante Cole who found the back of the net for the fifth time this season.
City had the better of the opening exchanges as a corner from Evans was almost converted by Reece Burke, but the Bantams were unable to add to their goal tally.
Doncaster had their first shot on goal with nine minutes on the clock as the Rovers began to up the pace, but the ball was easily collected by Bradford keeper Ben Williams.
A great link up by Cole and Burke almost saw City increase their lead in the 15th minute, but the pair couldn’t get past Stuckmann in the Doncaster net.
The Rovers thought they had something to cheer about with Keshi Anderson firing home. A corner from Richard Chaplow was not fully cleared, allowing Anderson to poke the ball in. However, the referee quickly denied the home side their first goal, showing Anderson the yellow card for handling the ball in the net.
Gary Liddle came close to converting a free kick from Tony McMahon shortly after, his header just scraping the bar and over the net, as the Bantams looked to pose a real threat in the box.
City were quick to pile on the pressure following a corner from Doncaster, as Cole made a break down the middle, passing the ball down the left wing to current loanee, Kyle Reid 20 yards out. But unfortunately his shot didn’t find the back of the net. Reid continued to show his strength, testing Stuckmann once more with a shot on the edge of the area in his second game for the Bantams.
The Rovers came out fighting in the second half but were unable to trouble Williams, coming close with chance from Chaplow which was blocked off the line by Burke to keep City’s lead.
A foul on Cole gave the Bantams the opportunity to double the score line as McMahon stepped up with a powerful shot towards goal, sending it narrowly wide of the post.
The Rovers began to pick up the pace with Nathan Tyson almost giving the home side an equaliser, his shot crossing the face of the goal and missing the net by inches.
It was definitely a game of 2 halves with City taking the first and Rovers the second, but for all their possession, Doncaster failed to threaten City’s stalwart defensive display restricting them to few clear cut chances.
Overall it was a good performance by City against a resurgent Doncaster team eager to impress their new Manager, Mr Ferguson Junior who watched his first match in charge from the stand.
