Bradford City 1T. Wright 81Doncaster Rovers 0
Words and images by Jason McKeown
These are changing times, but some things stay reassuringly familiar.
Because the character and resilience which has taken Bradford City so far are still embedded in the foundations. And they came to the fore here to help end a testing week with the calmest of wins. For all the knocks endured, all the noise that’s followed, and all the pressure that has grown, the players stood tall to chisel out a victory that won’t create huge headlines but could yet shift the trajectory of their season.
It was a performance of courage if not flair. They’ve played much better, for sure. But players who have faced legitimate questions over their form delivered encouraging answers. To a man, they displayed their mettle. Their reward should be to start feeling much better about themselves.
Exemplifying the redemption arc was Tyreik Wright. He hasn’t had the easiest of fortnights, and the mere whisper of the word ‘Doncaster’ will invoke personal demons over that crucial missed penalty during last April’s end-of-season promotion six-pointer at the Keepmoat Stadium. Today, his universe rebalanced. Wright had only been on the pitch for nine minutes when he popped up at the back post to meet Josh Neufville’s cross and produce a stunning first-time volley that crashed into the back of the net.
Now, the word ‘Doncaster’ can mean something very different for the player.
Did City deserve the three points that Wright’s wonder strike gave them? Possibly not. This was a real war of attrition – two sides battling hard, no one truly able to get on top. Both teams had nine shots apiece, with four efforts on target each. Possession edged by City, xG shaded by Doncaster.
Both City and Rovers had spells on top but neither truly dominated, and in such circumstances the first goal was always going to be crucial. Doncaster were never going to gain enough authority to dominate the closing stages in search of an equaliser – because City were never going to let them. Indeed, the home side’s most impressive period of the match was the brilliant way they game-managed the final stages to see it out.
City should – and at the same time shouldn’t – have been ahead long before that. Ten minutes in, Ibou Touray sent a cross into the box that debutant Kayden Jackson controlled before firing into the back of the net. The problem? The control involved touching the ball with his hand. Jackson wheeled away in celebration, while incensed Doncaster Rovers players surrounded referee Craig Hicks in protest. They had a point, but when Hicks ordered them back to the halfway line it seemed the goal would stand. Then fourth official Paul Marsden got involved and told Hicks a hand had indeed been used. Eventually, the goal was chalked off.
Right decision ultimately, but…what on earth happened to get to it? There is rumour and counter-rumour of the animated Doncaster bench showing Marsden a replay of the incident. The rules state that fourth officials cannot overrule a referee. City don’t have the strongest of arguments to call it an injustice, but some sort of explanation would be nice. The long delay to deliver the correct verdict sits slightly uncomfortably.
Still, in the end it wasn’t to matter.
Without that early advantage, the game drifted back and forth between cagey and quick-paced. Moments that had you on the edge of your seat, moments that could have sent you to sleep. Doncaster were the latest side to deploy an extra midfielder against City, as Robbie Gotts sat in front of the back four in a 4-1-4-1. With the wily Billy Sharp leading the line, Rovers created chances.
Early on, Sharp played in Harry Clifton, who wastefully blasted over. Soon after, the dangerous Luke Molyneux crossed for Hakeeb Adelakun, whose header kissed the crossbar. The best chance of the lot came when Sam Walker came for a cross but failed to collect, allowing Sharp to engineer space for a powerful goalbound shot that looked destined for the net – until Matt Pennington produced a miracle block on the line with his chest.
But though City started a little slowly defensively, they soon began to flex their own muscles. Jackson had an encouraging debut filling the Sarcevic-shaped hole on the right-hand side of attack, and very quickly showed signs of forging a useful partnership with a back-on-form Neufville. Bobby Pointon was recalled to the left side and looked more his old self, even if he’s still not yet quite touching his early season form.
Jackson and Pointon operated either side of Stephen Humphrys – who battled hard and made himself a nuisance, even if he can’t win as many headers as many in the crowd would like. The movement of the front three was vastly improved on the static, anonymous showings of the previous week.
And though Jenson Metcalfe and Max Power had an extra body to contend with in midfield, they battled admirably. Metcalfe was excellent in the tackle and in his vision to pick the right pass and instigate attacks. For the first time in weeks, Power looked unconfined by the fear of picking up a yellow card that would trigger a two-match ban. On an afternoon when City needed leadership, he provided it in abundance.
This allowed City to be so much more effective in attack that the previous two xG horror shows. Neufville got on the end of a wonderful Metcalfe pass, drove into the box and shot just wide. After the break Power saw a long-range effort beaten away by Zander Clark. He then came even closer with a powerful blockbuster shot that Clark magnificently tipped onto the bar. Pointon got first to the rebound and struck an effort at goal from the angle, only to hit the post. And from the ensuing scramble, Jackson appeared to be pushed over. Referee Hicks – and, of course, fourth official Marsden – were unmoved.
That was one of Jackson’s last actions. Around the hour mark he was taken off for George Lapslie. Humphrys also made way at the same time, with the other Friday new arrival Paul Mullin introduced. And though both Lapslie and Mullin made a positive impact overall, in the immediate aftermath City’s attacking threat dipped. They didn’t register a single attempt on goal between minute 60 and minute 80. For a home team pushing for three points, that is curious.
A quick word on Mullin. He needs little introduction given his high-profile exploits at Wrexham, and his goalscoring record is phenomenal. Over four seasons between 2020 and 2024, Mullin netted 136 times. That’s an eye-popping average of 34 goals a season. Incredible stuff.
But those four seasons were split between two in the National League and a couple in League Two. He’s spent the last year and a half in League One, where overall he’s scored a considerably less prolific 10 (five for Wrexham in 2024/25 and five for Wigan earlier this season). Can he be as devastatingly goal-laden at this level? Fair to say the jury is out.
But watching his first 31 minutes of action in a City shirt – and indeed, watching the Bantams all season – you suspect that’s not what has attracted Graham Alexander. For the last 18 months, City have been at their rampaging best when they produce high energy pressing. Mullin would appear to offer that skillset. And that’s why he’s a Bantam and Andy Cook is now a Mariner.
It would of course be great if Mullin wants to recapture his goalscoring prowess, but if between now and May he can net five or so goals, press non-stop, and ease the burden on Humphrys, he’ll likely deliver exactly what the club expects from him.
First signs were promising. Once he got going, Mullin was a menace. He won even fewer aerial duels than Humphrys, but like Calum Kavanagh last season, the 31-year-old offered intelligent off-the-ball movement and came alive in the final third.
Still, with City slightly less potent going forward after the double change, Doncaster began to look marginally more likely to score. A series of dangerous balls into the box narrowly failed to find a finish, while George Broadbent struck a powerful effort from distance that drifted just wide. City’s defence held firm, though, with Tilt back on form and enjoying a terrific battle with Sharp. Aden Baldwin and Pennington weren’t always composed on the ball but were solid and reliable.
Touray had another excellent game too, and is surely nudging ahead in the race for player of the season.
It was another pair of changes that ultimately decided the contest. First, Alexander made a shrewd switch, introducing Tyreik Wright for Tilt and moving him to left wing-back, with Touray sliding inside. City immediately looked more comfortable in possession.
The second change came from Doncaster, with Sharp withdrawn for Brandon Hanlon. Sharp may have been running on empty – he is 39, after all – but the drop-off in quality was stark. Hanlon’s first involvement saw him caught offside before being booked for carrying on and shooting. He could easily have been sent off shortly afterwards for a high boot.
Between those two moments, City scored and began to run down the clock with confident assurance. Doncaster created just one chance of note late on, when Owen Bailey could only telegraph his effort straight into the arms of Walker. Perhaps the wrong player for the chance to fall to, but Rovers’ lack of cutting edge is a familiar issue. The League One xG table for this season sees Doncaster ranked sixth. In other words, their underlying performances are play off standard – but they’re not converting their chances, and opposition sides must be scoring too many worldies.
That context underlines why this was never an easy contest, and why Doncaster’s 22nd position in the real league table could be a false one. City will not care a bit. They’ve finally defeated a club that has enjoyed too much recent success against them. And they can now start feeling more positive again.
Much of the credit must go to Alexander. It hasn’t been an easy week for the City manager, who has endured supporter criticism and struggled to hide his emotions. Given what he’s delivered over the past two years, he can justifiably argue he’s earned greater trust in the tough decisions he’s made reshaping the squad.
This was a reminder of just what a good manager he is. The mental toughness he has instilled in the squad to live up to the pressures of playing for this club. The high standards he has brought in and maintained. As supporters, we’ve seen plenty of City sides falter in moments like these – following up bad away defeats with further slip ups at home. But this City side are built differently – and Alexander is the architect of that.
It’s easy to forget amid recent challenges just how strong City remain at Valley Parade. This was their 30th win in 37 home league matches dating back to March 2024, and the 63rd of Alexander’s 127-game reign. Some going.
Events this week have understandably tested our faith. It raised questions about ambition, about squad quality, about staying power. And a narrow win over a side near the bottom doesn’t mean everything is suddenly rosy. But with reinforcements arriving and more signings possible before the window closes, this tension-easing victory gives renewed cause for optimism.
We shouldn’t forget how far the club has come in a short space of time. That upward journey still has plenty of mileage left if City stay true to what has made them successful. This felt like a timely reminder.
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Categories: Match Reviews
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