That’s more like it – the ‘real’ City go to top

By Graeme Wilson

BRADFORD CITY 2

Pointon 1, Kavanagh 85

BRADFORD CITY: S.Walker 8, Baldwin 7, Byrne 7 (Johnson 66, 7), Crichlow 6 (Shepherd 45, 6), Halliday 7, Pattison 7 (J.Walker 79, 6), Smallwood 8, Adaramola 7, Lapslie 7 (Khela 45, 7), Pointon 8, Kavanagh 8. Subs not used: Hilton, Wright, Mellon.

CREWE ALEX’ 0

CREWE: Marschall 7, O’Riordan 6, Demetriou 6, Williams 6 (Agius 87), Cooney 5 (Powell 45, 6), Lankester 6 (Hemmings 69, 6), Lowery 6, Knight-Lebel 6 (Billington 45, 6), Long 6, Conway 7, Bogle 6. Subs not used: Booth, Sanders, Thibaut.

Att: 22,214 Rating: ★★★★★ Ref: Adam Herczeg 6/10

GRAHAM Alexander felt Bradford City showed their true identity after replacing Walsall at the top of the table.

Bobby Pointon and Calum Kavanagh scored in their 12th win in the last 13 home games.

Pointon’s opener came after just 12 seconds – the quickest at Valley Parade since December 2000 when Ledley King scored in ten seconds for Tottenham.

Manager Alexander said: “That was more like us. I felt we let ourselves down at Port Vale on Tuesday.

“I have to keep reminding the players of what our identity is as a team and what’s got us success and we showed that from minute one.

“The goal was so early I wondered ifthatmight change our performance. I was interested to see if we’d sit back and try to manage it.

“But we didn’t, we kept going and were really aggressive. We stayed on the press and had other opportunities and it didn’t detract from our performance after that.

“It’s where we are in four weeks’ time. We have to keep our eye on just the next game.”

Bradford went ahead before Crewe had even touched the ball. Kavanagh’s shot hit a post, but the rebound came back to him and he turned into towards Pointon to score from close range.

Crewe responded with Jamie Knight-Lebel flicking over Tom Lowery’s corner, but Alex Pattison twice went close to doubling Bradford’s lead.

Aden Baldwin handled in the box as Crewe were awarded a penalty, but Sam Walker saved Ryan Cooney’s spot-kick.

Bradford had another chance at the end of the first half but George Lapslie just cleared the bar.

Omar Bogle had an effort ruled out for offside for Crewe before Tayo Adara-mola’s curling effort nearly increased Bradford’s advantage. Crewe keeper Filip Marschall saved from Brandon Khela and Pattison, but Kavanagh went clear from Jamie Walker’s pass to slot the second.

Crewe manager Lee Bell was unhappy that his side had been caught cold and said: “You always lose games of football if you’re not ready when the opposition kick off and we weren’t ready.

“They weren’t in the correct positions that they should be – two of them weren’t even looking.

“There were people messing with their socks, people dropping off.

“Ultimately, that’s cost us the game. It’s tough enough as it is coming here.”