BRADFORD CITY AFC

Tony McMahon's superb free-kick from distance after seventeen minutes fired Phil Parkinson's men into a deserved lead before James Hanson and the recalled Nathan Clarke went close for City later in the half.

McMahon had a chance to double his tally for the night midway through the second period but his volley on the stretch from Kyel Reid's cross was turned behind Southend's highly-rated shot-stopper Daniel Bentley.

City did add to their total fifteen minutes from the end, however, with McMahon involved again. From the midfielder's corner delivery, Hanson attacked the cross with purpose, sending a header crashing down off the underside of the crossbar before the ball was bundled home.

Replays seem to suggest that the final touch on the ball before it crossed the line possibly came off Bentley but the goal has initially been given to Hanson.

Southend, who actually enjoyed a positive start to the second half before City's second goal, tried to gain something out of the match as time ticked down but the nearest they came to scoring was an Anthony Wordsworth free-kick from distance hit straight at Ben Williams.

The Bantams, in fact, could have added a third before Wordsworth's late effort but substitute Steven Davies' half-volley following Lee Evans' free-kick into the box was pushed away by Bentley.

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90+5min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Billy Knott for McMahon.

90+2min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Mark Marshall for Reid.

90+1min: YELLOW CARD - Wordsworth is booked for dissent.

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

90min: McMahon's pull-back from the resulting free-kick finds Evans just inside the box but the Welshman's side-footed effort goes over.

89min: YELLOW CARD - O'Neill is booked for holding onto Reid as the winger turned away from him by the byline.

88min: Wordsworth's effort direct from a free-kick outside the box is held first time by Williams.

86min: Reid twists and turns before firing wildly over with a drive from the edge of the box.

85min: Evans' ball over the top following a quick free-kick from deep finds the run of Davies and the striker's left-footed half-volley is repelled via a strong hand from Bentley.

82min: Davies' lay off into the path of Evans sees the Welshman try and effort for goal around the edge of the area but the left-footed drive takes a slight off Adam Barrett before going out for a corner.

72min: SUB - Southend bring on David Worrall for Will Atkinson.

71min: Hanson's header from the resulting McMahon corner is easily held by Bentley.

70min: McMahon stretches to volley goalwards following Reid's driven cross but Bentley pushes behind by his near post.

69min: YELLOW CARD - Michael Timlin is booked for a late tackle on Evans midway into Southend's half.

68min: Loza tries to get on the end of a Southend through-ball but Reece Burke does just enough to hold him off before Williams can gather up the attempted pass.

67min: SUB - Southend bring on Jamar Loza for Gary Deegan.

66min: YELLOW CARD - Stephen Darby is booked by referee Ross Joyce for taking too long over a throw-in.

63min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Steven Davies for Thomas.

61min: Coker's low cross into the box is knocked into the path of Hunt by Wordsworth. Hunt's shot for goal is well saved by Williams but the Irishman had already been flagged for offside.

59min: SUB - Southend bring on Sam McQueen for McLaughlin.

57min: McLaughlin's deflected cross drops into the path of Wordsworth inside the box but the midfielder's pull-back from close range is partially blocked by Nathan Clarke before Williams can gratefully gather up in the middle.

53min: Evans' deep free-kick from deep misses everyone in the middle, leaving Bentley with no option but to push the effort away to prevent it from creeping into the bottom corner of his goal.

50min: Anthony Wordsworth plays Stephen McLaughlin into space just inside City's penalty area as Southend spring forward on the counter-attack. With Nathan Clarke sprinting to close him down, McLaughlin stretches to get his shot away but his rising effort on the angle flashes over Williams' bar.

48min: Thomas turns and drives into Southend's penalty area before seeing his low strike for goal deflect behind for a corner off Luke O'Neill.

46min: The Bantams restart the match.

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

44min: Nathan Clarke heads narrowly over the bar following McMahon's corner delivery.

37min: As Southend try to clear their lines following a long Lee Evans' throw-in into their box, Thomas lays the ball back to Hanson and the giant striker fires in a rising drive from the edge of the area that whistles narrowly over Bentley's bar.

25min: After James Hanson wins possession just inside City's own half with a sliding tackle, Josh Cullen sprints forward into Southend territory on the counter-attack. Cullen eventually plays the ball wide to Wes Thomas inside the box but the striker's curling effort lands on the roof of Bentley's net.

15min: Noel Hunt's looping half-volley from the edge of the area is tipped over by Ben Williams.

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

BRADFORD CITY LINE UP:

Williams, Darby, N Clarke, Burke, Meredith, McMahon, Evans, Cullen, Reid, Thomas, Hanson

Subs: Cracknell, Marshall, B Clarke, Knott, Leigh, Routis, Davies

Davies for Thomas (63), Marshall for Reid (90+2), Knott for McMahon (90+5)

Darby (66)

SOUTHEND UNITED LINE UP:

Bentley, O'Neill, Bolger, Barrett, Coker, Atkinson, Deegan, Timlin, Wordsworth, McLaughlin, Hunt

Subs: Smith, Thompson, Worrall, Mooney, Payne, McQueen, Loza

McQueen for McLaughlin (59), Loza for Deegan (67), Worrall for Atkinson (72)

Timlin (69), O'Neill (89), Wordsworth (90+1)