BRADFORD CITY AFC

Lacking their usual spark and gusto, City struggled to get out of first gear all night and they had no answer to Walsall once Craig Westcarr's second half double had put them in control.

In a first half devoid of any real clear-cut chances, the Bantams at least held their own with their visitors as both sides played out an largely uneventful opening period.

Walsall seemed to move things up a notch in the second half, however, and found themselves two goals to the good thanks to two Westcarr strikes within ten minutes.

At a time when the Bantams are looking to secure their spot in League 1 for next season, such a flat performance from Phil Parkinson's men certainly wasn't ideal to say the least.

Parkinson's side will now be hoping for a quick response when they travel to promotion-chasing Leyton Orient this weekend.

90min: There will be three minutes of time added on at the end of the match.

81min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Matthew Dolan for Jones. Davies will finish the game as captain.

77min: SUB - Walsall bring on James McQuilkin for Brandy.

76min: Westcarr flings himself at the ball but he is just too far away to connect with Brandy's teasing cross into the middle.

72min: Baxendale curls a delightful effort for goal from just outside the box but McLaughlin superbly clings on to the effort with Westcarr waiting to pounce for any loose ball.

62min: Westcarr sends a teasing low delivery into the six yard box that Davies has to clear with a vital sliding tackle to prevent the lurking Brandy from potentially pouncing

61min: McLaughlin tries to see the ball out of play for a goal-kick but he is robbed of the ball by Westcarr on the byline. Luckily for City though, Drury is on hand to nip in for possession of the ball and clear his lines.

60min: SUB - The Bantams bring on James Hanson for Gray in another straight swap.

55min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Garry Thompson for Kyle Bennett in a straight swap.

55min: YELLOW CARD - Andy Gray is booked for seemingly something he said to referee Mr Stroud.

46min: The Bantams restart the game.

HT SUB - Walsall bring on James Baxendale for Milan Lalkovic just before the start of the second half.

45min: There will be one minute of time added on at the end of the first half.

44min: Brandy turns on the ball and shoots from outside the area but his angled drive whistles a good yard or so wide of McLaughlin's far post.

43min: McArdle lets Taylor's long ball forward rolls through to McLaughlin but the 'keeper decides to go with his legs inside of his hands and the 'keeper just about manages to clear his lines with Westcarr lurking.

35min: Westcarr's first shot from the edge of the area is blocked by McArdle. The Walsall attacker is quickest to the rebound but sees his second effort rolls into the arms of McLaughlin.

29min: Oh so close for City! Andrew Davies rises highest to connect with Gary Jones' floated free-kick delivery into the box. The downward header has the power to beat O'Donnell's dive but the effort also flies narrowly wide of the 'keeper's far post.

26min: Craig Westcarr fires for goal direct from a free-kick around 25 yards out but the low effort deflects wide of McLaughlin's near post.

23min: Aaron Mclean tries his luck with a shot on the turn from around 30 yards out but the effort sails over Richard O'Donnell's bar without the 'keeper having to move.

9min: Andy Taylor's cross from the left loops up into the path of the lurking Adam Chambers but the midfielder's volley for goal from around twelve yards out is vitally blocked by the diving frame of Adam Drury before it can trouble McLaughlin's goal.

6min: Febian Brandy takes aim from outside the area but his shot has all the sting taken out of it by Rory McArdle's outstretched leg and Jon McLaughlin can easily gather as a result.

0min: Walsall kick off the match. City will attack towards the T.L Dallas Stand end in the first half.

McLaughlin, Darby, McArdle, Davies, Drury, Bennett, Bates, Jones, Reach, Mclean, Gray

Subs: Bentley, Dolan, Hanson, Thompson, Yeates, McHugh, Atkinson

Thompson for Bennett (55), Hanson for Gray (60), Dolan for Jones (81)

Gray (55)

O'Donnell, J Chambers, Downing, Butler, Taylor, Mantom, A Chambers, Brandy, Sawyers, Lalkovic, Westcarr

Subs: Roberts, Purkiss, Featherstone, Baxendale, Hewitt, McQuilkin, Ngoo

Baxendale for Lalkovic (46), McQuilkin for Brandy (77)