Saturday 16 September 2017
Sky Bet League One
Bradford City 1 (Vincelot 21)
Rotherham United 0
Kick Off: 3.00pm
at the Northern Commercials Stadium
Attendance: 20,881 (1,641 visitors)
City skipper Romain Vincelot proved to be the Bantams' goal-scoring hero once again, as Stuart McCall's men secured a battling victory over Rotherham United in an hard-fought Yorkshire derby at the Northern Commercials Stadium.
Fresh from his last-minute equaliser at Oxford United in midweek, Vincelot popped up with the decisive goal - his third in successive matches - midway through the first period to help claim the win for McCall's side against a Rotherham team who had won their previous three fixtures going into this game.
Vincelot's team-mate Dominic Poleon could have doubled City's advantage shortly before the break but his goal-bound effort was well-saved by Rotherham shot-stopper Marek Rodak.
At the other end, Rotherham could have levelled earlier in the first period but the busy Jon Taylor was denied by Colin Doyle and then Matthew Kilgallon.
Taylor's initial shot was saved by Doyle, the Rotherham striker was first onto the loose ball, but Kilgallon was on hand to superbly hook his follow up effort clear off the line.
Rotherham made City work for their win in the second period. Doyle was forced to repel efforts from Richie Towell and Taylor, while Nathaniel Knight-Percival made a brave block from close range to deny Lee Frecklington.
One of City's better chances after the restart came via Nicky Law after the midfielder had played a one-two with Charlie Wyke.
Law found himself with a sight of goal after the exchange of passes but Rodak came out bravely at his feet to make the save.
Rotherham finished the game with ten men after defender Joe Mattock was given his marching orders for a second booking deep into injury time.
FT: Bradford City 1 Rotherham United 0
90+3min: YELLOW CARD = RED CARD - Mattock is given his second booking for the game after bringing down Gilliead inside Rotherham's half of the pitch.
90+1min: YELLOW CARD - Doyle is booked by referee Mr Simpson for time-wasting.
90min: There will be five minutes of time added on at the end of the match.
90min: YELLOW CARD - Kilgallon is booked for bringing down Forde as the substitute looked to surge forward.
88min: YELLOW CARD - Moore is cautioned for a foul on Thompson.
86min: Doyle makes a smart stop to deny Clarek-Harris, but the Rotherham sub has already been flagged for offside.
82min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Adam Thompson for Law.
80min: Rotherham bring on Jonson Clarke-Harris for Towell.
78min: Knight-Percival's header from a McMahon corner delivery is saved by Rodak.
72min: SUB - Rotherham bring on Anthony Forde for Taylor.
70min: After breaking forward deep into Rotherham territory, Law plays a one-two with Wyke before finding himself in with a sight of goal. Law goes to knock the ball past Rodak but the Rotherham shot-stopper is out quickly to make the block.
63min:Towell's low drive from outside the box is parried by Doyle. Frecklington looks to fire in the rebound from close range but his shot is blocked bravely by the frame of Knight-Percival.
63min: SUB - Rotherham bring on Joe Newell for Williams.
62min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Omari Patrick for Poleon.
61min: A cross from the right from Rotherham eventually sees the ball break out to Taylor over on the far side of the box. Taylor goes for goal but the low drive is held by Doyle.
59min:YELLOW CARD - Joe Mattock is booked for pulling back Gilliead.
57min: Williams' deflected cross finds Frecklington and the midfielder's header lands narrowly wide of the target.
54min: Taylor's free-kick into the box is cleared out by Kilgallon but Rotherham still keep the attack alive. Towell fires for goal from outside the box but Doyle shows great reflexes to make the low save.
50min: Kilgallon can only half clear before Williams' drive deflects up into the gloves of Doyle.
46min: Rotherham restart the match.
HT: Bradford City 1 Rotherham United 0
45min: There will be three minutes of time added on at the end of the first period.
45min: A deep cross from Vaulks finds Wood in the box but his header on the stretch goes wide.
43min: Law's cross into the middle is helped on by Gilliead into the path of Poleon, who is in space inside the box. Poleon has a sight of Rotherham's goal but Marek Rodak is out quickly to narrow the angle and make the save.
42min: YELLOW CARD - Alex Gilliead is booked for a foul on Taylor.
40min: Will Vaulks' cross from the right is headed for goal by Ihiekwe but Doyle holds.
39min: Darren Potter fires from distance but the effort goes wide.
29min: YELLOW CARD - Richard Wood is booked for a late challenge on Dominic Poleon.
28min: Michael Ihiekwe for the visitors and then Charlie Wyke for City both go close with efforts within quick succesion of each other.
26min: Great defending from Matthew Kilgallon keeps City in the lead! Taylor's first shot at goal for Rotherham is repelled by Doyle. Taylor is quickly onto the loose ball again but his goal-bound effort is somehow hooked clear off the line by Kilgallon on the stretch!
26min: Law fires over after being found by McMahon's cross.
21min: GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bradford City 1 Rotherham United 0 - Vincelot gives City the lead! McMahon's cross into the box is inviting and Vincelot is on hand from around six yards out to guide a header into the far corner!
17min: YELLOW CARD - Romain Vincelot is booked for a foul on Lee Frecklington.
12min: Nicky Law's pass finds Dominic Poleon, who drives into the box before testing Marek Rodak with a low strike.
10min: Joe Mattock's cross from the left finds Richie Towell but the midfielder fires over from outside the box.
8min: Jon Taylor's strike direct from a free-kick goes under the wall but his held by Doyle.
6min: Alex Gilliead takes aim from outside the box but the effort flies over.
0min: The Bantams kick off the game. They will attack towards the T L Dallas Stand end in the first period.
BRADFORD CITY LINE UP:
Doyle, McMahon, Kilgallon, Knight-Percival, Chicksen, Vincelot, Law, Reeves, Gilliead, Poleon, Wyke
Subs: Raeder, Thompson, Taylor, McCartan, Hendrie, Jones, Patrick
Bradford City substitutions:
Patrick for Poleon (62), Thompson for Law (82)
Bradford City cautions:
Vincelot (17), Gilliead (40), Kilgallon (90), Doyle (90+1)
ROTHERHAM UNITED LINE UP:
Rodak, Vaulks, Mattock, Wood, Ihiekwe, Potter, Towell, Frecklington, Taylor, Williams, Moore
Subs: O'Donnell, Ajayi, Forde, Purrington, Clarke-Harris, Yates, Newell
Rotherham United substitutions:
Newell for Williams (62), Forde for Taylor (72), Clarke-Harris for Towell (80)
Rotherham United cautions:
Wood (29), Mattock (59, 90+3), Moore (88)
Rotherham United dismissals:
Mattock (90+3)
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Jeremy Simpson
Assistant Referee: Nick Hopton
Assistant Referee: Tony Peart
Fourth Official: Peter Wright