Bradford 1 ? 0 Pool

Changes were made for tonight match and it didn?t matter which way you looked at it, the defensive 4-5-1 or the attacking 4-3-3 formation, it didn?t make a difference as the Seasiders went down at Valley Parade to a late Joe Brown goal.

Southern and Fox started the match in place of Rory Prendergast and Ciaran Donnelly, this meant a change in formation, 4-4-3 with Parker and Morris supporting Murphy. Then under pressure reverting to 4-5-1, with Parker and Morris dropping back into the midfield leaving Murphy upfront. Despite scoring the winning goal on Saturday Gareth Williams had to settle for a place on the bench.

First Half

With in the first two minutes the Seasider?s had their first attempt on target, Morris?s corner, after good work from Stockley, found captain Clarke. He had a free header at goal but could only direct it straight at Donovan Ricketts.

Bradford?s first chance came from loanee Aaron Wilbraham, his snap shot whistled just wide and high of Lee Jones? goal. The Bantams then had their own chance from a corner, Wilbraham heading wide from Ben Muirhead?s corner.

It was Wilbraham?s partner upfront who had the better of the opening chances, Danny Cadamarteri went clean though on goal from a headed through ball, but the former Everton player slipped and fluffed his shot wide.

Bradford continued with the pressure Lewis Emanuel, blazing over the bar after Wilbraham had had another golden opportunity to break the deadlock following great wing play from Muirhead.

Pool then had two opportunities to grab the lead, both falling to Keigan Parker, his volley forced Ricketts to make a magnificent save, and then from the resulting corner park smashed his shot on to the bar.

The Seasiders continued to pepper the Bantams goal, Ricketts again foiling Parker, in a half which saw seven corners awarded to the Pool. After a bright start and then soaking up the mid-half pressure it was the Seasiders that were unfortunate to not have broken the deadlock. Parker coming the closest with his shot that rebounded of the bar after his intial shot was well saved by Ricketts.

Second Half

Bradford made the only change at half time, Ben Muirhead being replaced by Joe Brown,

adamarteri moved wide with Brown going upfront.

Bradford started the brightest and in the first minute Lewis Emanuel fired a cross across the front of the goal, only a touch would have been needed to give the Bantams the lead.

Substitute Joe Brown then became the first name in the book, a centre forwards tackle on Marc Joseph earned him the booking.

Bradford continued their good start to the second half, controlling the majority of the play, retaining possession and reducing the Seasiders to few attacking opportunities. But the Bantams didn?t manage to create many good opportunities for themselves.

Ian Morris did however manage to create an opportunity, his shot from all of 25 yard fizzed past the goal, only inches the wrong side of the post.

Bradford made the second change of the night Cadamarteri was replaced by Joe Colbeck in a straight swap. Emanuel combined with substitute Brown to his first opportunity of the match, Emanuel?s cross found Brown but he could only shoot wide of Jones? goal.

The Ginger Ninja replaced Ian Morris on 75, Williams going straight out on the wide left, keeping the 4-3-3 formation.

Into the last ten minutes the Bantams looked to grabbed all three points, sub Colbeck creating opportunities for fellow sub Brown late on. A great piece of defending by Marc Joseph cut out yet another cross from the impressive Emanuel.

Both sides made late changes, Donnelly came on for David Fox, and Michael Symes replaced Aaron Wilbraham.

Southern had a golden opportunity to grab a late winner for the Pool, good work from Parker found Southern. But the midfielder leant back and with an unfortunate bobble smashed his shot over the bar from 10 yards out. And moments later Southern was to rue the missed chance.

Substitute Joe Brown headed in on 91 minutes from a Joe Colbeck to give Bradford the lead and what was to be the winner.

Summary

Bradford left it very late today, but once again missing chances were costly. Parker hitting the bar, Morris long shot and then the sitter for Southern at the end. Three points could have eased the pressure tonight and brought Bradford back into the mire at the bottom of League One.

Bradford City

Ricketts, D Holloway, D Wetherall, D Stewart, M Bower, B Muirhead (45 J Brown) , M Bridge-Wilkinson, T Penford, L Emanuel, D Cadamarteri (71 J Colbeck) , A Wilbraham (86 M Symes)

Subs: R Howarth, T Kearney, M Symes, J Brown, J Colbeck

Blackpool

Jones, S Stockley, P Clarke, M Joseph, J Wilcox, K Parker, D Fox (86 C Donnelly) , K Southern, M Bean, I Morris (75 G Williams) , J Murphy

Subs: L Pogliacomi, T Butler, G Williams, C Donnelly, R Prendergast