BRADFORD CITY AFC

After an even opening to the contest, City grew in confidence as the first half progressed and took the lead four minutes before the break when Billy Clarke converted from Nicky Law's cross.

With City's tails up, Clarke then turned provider shortly before the interval when his cross was headed home by Timothee Dieng.

The Bantams' task to secure all three points from the game was made easier thirteen minutes after the restart when Dale defender Niall Canavan was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence following a foul on Josh Cullen.

Stuart McCall's men further extended their lead from the resulting free-kick, James Hanson firing home on the second attempt after his initial header from Mark Marshall's free-kick had been saved by Dale 'keeper Josh Lillis.

McCall's side then put the icing on the cake shortly after the hour mark. Marshall getting in on the act as he left Lillis rooted with an effort that found the corner direct from a free-kick just outside the area.

With City in complete control at this stage, Cullen, Nicky Law, Hanson and substitute Jordy Hiwula all had chances to nab a fifth in the closing stages but the Bantams were more than content with their day's work.

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

83min: From Cullen's square pass inside the area, Knight-Percival and Hiwula both try to scramble home but the ball is eventually kicked clear from right in front of the goal-line by Davies.

82min: Thompson's searching ball into the box founds Callum Camps but his downward header is straight at Sattelmaier.

81min: With runners in front of him, Cullen elects to shoot after being found in space just outside the box but his curling effort goes wide of the target. 

81min: Morais runs at McNulty before firing in a low cross-come-shot that is saved by Lillis by his near post.

78min: YELLOW CARD - Noble-Lazarus is booked for bringing down Knight-Percival as the City defender brought the ball forward into Rochdale's half of the pitch.

76min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Daniel Devine for Dieng.

75min: Davies shoots for goal on the turn from just outside the area but his curling effort flashes comfortably wide of Sattelmaier's far post.

74min: Hiwula plays Law into shooting space inside the area, his shot is repelled by Lillis and Hanson is unable to fire home on the rebound as the ball seems to get stuck under his feet from close range.

73min: Noble-Lazarus tries his luck from distance but his rising effort sails comfortably over the bar.

70min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Filipe Morais and Jordy Hiwula for Marshall and Billy Clarke respectively.

69min: SUB - Rochdale bring on Harrison McGahey for Bunney.

66min: YELLOW CARD - Bunney is booked for bringing down Marshall over by City's right wing.

62min: SUB - Rochdale bring on Jim McNulty for Rafferty following Canavan's dismissal.

58min: YELLOW CARD = RED CARD: Canavan is given his marching orders for a second bookable offence after clipping Cullen as the midfielder looked to burst clear into space just outside the box.

57min: Keane's underhit back-pass has Clarke interested but Lillis is out quickly and blocks away as the City striker tried to knock the ball past him.

57min: Marshall is played into space down City's right flank but his low centre into the six yard box is gathered up by Lillis with Hanson lurking behind. 

55min: YELLOW CARD - Vincelot is booked for a foul on Joe Thompson just inside Dale's half of the pitch.

55min: Billy Clarke's clever pass finds Law in space inside the area but his effort for goal is blocked away.

54min: Noble-Lazarus' shot from distance deflects up off Josh Cullen and Sattelmaier is able to gather the ball as it loops up towards him. 

50min: Davies comes steaming in to connect with Rafferty's corner but the striker's goal-bound header hits his own team-mate, Noble-Lazarus. A scramble ensues deep inside City's penalty area but the Bantams eventually manage to clear their lines.

48min: SUB - Rochdale bring on Reuben Noble-Lazarus for Aaron Morley.

46min: Rochdale restart the match.

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

45min: City threaten again when Law puts the ball in the middle and Hanson sends a downward header a yard or so wide of the post.

43min: Billy Clarke hits the post! The striker tries his luck from outside the box and his low effort has to be tipped onto the post and behind by Lillis.

38min: Marshall takes advantage of a slip from Bunney to run clear down City's right flank. Marshall's resulting cross into the middle looks to pick out Hanson but the striker stumbles over in the box while under pressure from Rafferty. The home fans appeal for a spot-kick but the decision goes against City, with Hanson penalised instead and a free-kick awarded to Rochdale.

35min: Lillis' mis-kick sees the ball land at Billy Clarke's feet in midway into Rochdale territory. With Lillis slightly out of position, Clarke has the opportunity to try and catch him out but the Irish striker's shot is rather snatched and the bobbling effort is easily held by a recovering Dale shot-stopper.

33min: Law aims for goal but his curling effort from just outside the box takes a touch off a Rochdale defender before flying wide of Lillis' far post. Billy Clarke takes the following set-piece but Lillis is able to claim the corner delivery despite pressure from Knight-Percival.

31min: Sattelmaier's kick up field following the save is contested by James Hanson and Keane. The ball is allowed to bounce and Lillis has to come to the edge of his area to kick clear before Hanson can look to pounce.

31min: Rafferty's ball into the box from deep is headed up in the air by Romain Vincelot as the Frenchman looked to clear. With the ball dropping back into the box, Davies heads for goal but Sattelmaier is able to gather up easily enough.

25min: From the resulting Billy Clarke corner, the ball is cleared as far as Law just outside the area. Law fires for goal but his driven half volley is blocked by a diving Keith Keane. The home fans appeal for handball and a penalty but referee Mr Ross Joyce allows play to continue.

24min: Following a great driving run from Nicky Law, Billy Clarke manages to play Marshall into space down the right hand channel of Rochdale's penalty area. Marshall fires the ball low across the six yard box but Rafferty is in the right place to crucially knock behind for a corner.

19min: From the resulting free-kick, Billy Clarke curls an effort for goal but the shot is held by Josh Lillis diving to his left.

19min: YELLOW CARD - Canavan is booked for bringing down Mark Marshall a few yards outside the area after the winger had surged forward at pace.

12min: The ball breaks out to Joe Bunney roughly thirty yards from goal and the left back's hopeful first time effort on the half volley loops some distance over the bar.

10min: Steven Davies denied by Sattelmaier and the offside flag. Rafferty's low centre into the six yard box picks out Davies in the middle but the striker's close range effort is pushed out by a superb reflex save from City's German shot-stopper. Even without Sattelmaier's intervention though, Davies wouldn't have netted as the linesman's flag was raised for offside.

8min: Decent chance for Rochdale! From Joe Rafferty's free-kick into the box from wide, Niall Canavan plays the ball back to Andy Cannon and the midfielder fires narrowly wide of Sattelmaier's near post with a low shot from just inside the box.

7min: With City pushed up, Rochdale spring forward on the counter-attack as Nathaniel Mendez-Laing sprints past Stephen Darby and deep into Bantams territory. Mendez-Laing looks to get to the edge of City's penalty area and a run at Rouven Sattelmaier's goal but he is denied by a great last-ditch tackle from Nathaniel Knight-Percival.

0min: The Bantams kick off the match. Stuart McCall's men will attack towards the T L Dallas Stand end in the first period.

BRADFORD CITY LINE UP:

Sattelmaier, Darby, Vincelot, Knight-Percival, Meredith, Dieng, Cullen, Law, Marshall, B Clarke, Hanson

Subs: Cracknell, Hiwula,, McNulty, Morais, McArdle, Devine, Kilgallon

Morais for Marshall (70), Hiwula for B Clarke (70), Devine for Dieng (76)

Vincelot (55)

ROCHDALE LINE UP:

Lillis, Rafferty, Keane, Canavan, Bunney, Camps, Cannon, Morley, Thompson, Mendez-Laing, Davies

Subs: Logan, Tanser, McNulty, McGahey, Noble-Lazarus, Gillam, Hollins

Noble-Lazarus for Morley (48), McNulty for Rafferty (62), McGahey for Bunney (69)

Canavan (58)

Rochdale cautions:
Canavan (19, 58), Bunney (66), Noble-Lazarus (78)