ACCRINGTON ST 0
BRADFORD CITY 0
STAR MAN
BENN WARD Accrington
GRAHAM Alexander insists his promotion-chasing Bradford City side will only know how valuable the point won in this goalless draw is at the end of the season.
The Bantams could have gone top with a win in the early kick-off but had to settle for a draw in a game lacking in goalmouth action.
There was only one shot on target which was a simple catch for Bradford keeper Sam Walker from Stanley captain Seamus Conneely.
Bantams boss Alexander made a quadruple substitution soon after the break and one of the substitutes, Alex Pattison, fired narrowly side with their best chance.
Alexander said: “It’s a fair point over the game. I don’t think either team did enough to win the game outright.
“We are a bit frustrated that we didn’t have better quality in the attacking phases of the game.
“We didn’t create enough against a defensively strong team and no one really stamped their authority on the game.
“We had a good chance through Pat-to but he knocked it wide and those are the moments we have to make go our way but, if we don’t do that, we have to stay strong, take a point and go target after 39 minutes.
With more of the same at the start of the second half, Alexander made his quadruple substitution after 58 minutes as he looked for his side to make more of an impact.
They imme-into the next game. Only time diately forced a succession will tell how valuable individual points are, but the draws who scored the winning goal of corners with Pattison,
we have had have contributed against Stanley in the reverse to where we are now. match, having a shot deflected
“There are no easy game wide and one off target. especially when you get down The game got increasingly to the last few furlongs and the heated with both sides battling finishing line is clear in everyone’s eyes.” share the spoils, with Bradford for every ball but they had to Stanley dominated the not having a shot on target in chances in the first half but the entire match. had only the only shot on John Doolan’s Accrington side moved another point towards safety as they look to secure League Two football next season.
He said: “You have to be pleased with a point and a clean.
“Both defences have done well and there was just a lack of quality in final third. We were the better team in first half in terms of chances and asking questions. We started on the front foot and got in their faces but there was only one which hit the target.
“Their substitutions gave them a lift, they put good quality on and were a danger from set-plays, but right now we are good at defending.
“There is a desire, belief and will for everyone to see and that bodes well for the future. Clean sheets will win the game especially if you have quality at the other end.”
ACCRINGTON: Crellin 6, Matthews 6, Rawson 7, Ward 8, Love 6, Conneely 7 (Grant 77, 6), Woods 7, Batty 6, O’Brien-Whitmarsh 6 (Henderson 76, 6), Mooney 6 (Brown 90, 6), Woods 6 (Caton 77, 6). Subs not used: Kelly, Coyle, Quirk BRADFORD: Walker 6, Byrne 7, Baldwin 7, Crichlow-Noble 7 (Kelly 57, 6), Halliday 6, Khela 6 (Pattison 57, 6), Smallwood 6, Adaramola 6 (Pointon 57, 6), Lapslie 6 (Walker 57, 6), Wright 6, Kavanagh 6 (Mellon 84, 6). Subs not used: Hilton, Huntington
Cardiff City
Omer Riza is proud of his Cardiff City troops
Championship
OLIVER’S SET FOR BIG STEP
