An incredible 3,158 Bradford City supporters – the highest away following attending any of Saturday’s EFL fixtures – made the short trip across the M62 to watch their side secure a comfortable 3-0 victory over hapless Rochdale. The Lancashire-based outfit are firmly rooted at the bottom of League Two, now eight points away from safety. Conversely, Mark Hughes’ men are in a rich vein of form, with yesterday’s result extending their current unbeaten run to eleven games.
City pressed from the first whistle, and were rewarded for their positivity just six minutes into the tie, as Sam Stubbs rose to nod home a Richard Smallwood free-kick from close range. Bradford’s skipper was the set-piece provider once again as the Bantams doubled their advantage mid-way through the second half, a short while after Scottish midfielder Jamie Walker saw his headed effort dramatically cleared off the line. Smallwood’s swirling delivery from the left-hand side deceived Dale’ defender Ethan Ebanks-Landell, who flicked the ball beyond the grasp of a despairing Richard O’Donnell to leave his side trailing by two goals with less than a quarter of the match remaining. It was no less than City deserved, having gone close with several efforts after the interval.
Bradford’s third came in the 82nd minute, as former Crystal Palace attacker Scott Banks created half a yard of space in the Rochdale penalty area, and lashed a deflected drive over O’Donnell to cap-off yet another impressive away performance – Bradford have not lost on the road since Boxing Day – and ensure his side headed back to Valley Parade with all three points.
City’s productive afternoon at Spotland was complemented by results elsewhere, as play-off rivals Carlisle United, Stockport County, and Mansfield Town all drew, and Salford City suffered a disappointing home defeat to relegation-threatened Colchester United. The West Yorkshiremen travel to out-of-form Swindon Town on Tuesday evening, hoping to further consolidate their play-off berth. Given Bradford’s recent sequence of results, one would expect Jody Morris’ side to be comfortably put to the sword.
