Saturday 23 September 2017
Sky Bet League One
Northampton Town 0
Bradford City 1 (McMahon 34)
Kick Off: 3.00pm
at Sixfields Stadium
Attendance 6,355 (1,145 visiting supporters)
The Bantams made it back-to-back wins and clean sheets as Tony McMahon's superb first-half match-winner ensured City secured a hard-fought victory at Northampton Town.
Following last weekend's Yorkshire derby success against Rotherham United, a 1-0 scoreline proved to be enough for Stuart McCall's men once more at Sixfields Stadium.
Known normally for his assists so far this season, McMahon registered his first goal of the campaign ten minutes before the break when he curled a brilliant free-kick into the top corner from roughly twenty yards out.
Clearly still buoyed by the recent arrival of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink as their new manager, Northampton certainly played their part in the first period but McCall's side arguably had the best chances before the break.
Nicky Law, Dominic Poleon and Charlie Wyke all went close ahead of McMahon's opener.
Northampton threw everything they had at the Bantams after the restart but City shot-stopper Colin Doyle and the back four stood up to physical threat poised by the hosts.
The Cobblers squandered two late chances via strikers Alex Revell and Marc Richards but, in truth, City limited Northampton to little more than that in terms of sights at goal.
FT: Northampton Town 0 Bradford City 1
90+2min: Grimes' long ball into the box eventually bounces into path of Richards but the striker fires over with the half volley from deep inside the box.
90min: There will be four minutes of time added on at the end of the match.
87min: Buchanan's teasing cross towards the far post is headed narrowly wide by Revell.
84min: YELLOW CARD - Another surging run from Gilliead gets the winger deep into Northampton territory but he stretches to keep the ball in his possession and ends up catching Buchanan. The Bantams winger gets a booking as a result.
81min: Ingram comes out of his area to beat Patrick to bouncing through ball over the top. Reeves keeps the ball alive in Northampton territory, resulting in Wyke going for a shot from distance but Ingram is back in his goal by then to keep out the shot on the half-volley.
80min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Adam Thompson for Law.
78min: A superb run by Gilliead sees the City winger burst clear down the right flank. Gilliead looks to find Wyke in the middle but Taylor is in the right position to tackle the ball back to Ingram with the striker waiting behind him for a potential tap-in.
74min: SUB - Northampton bring on Sam Hoskins for Reglan Poole.
71min: McMahon's cross into the box is headed down by Vincelot on the stretch but the loose ball is gobbled up by Ingram.
68min: SUB - Northampton bring on Marc Richards for Powell.
64min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Omari Patrick for Poleon.
61min: Ingram's free-kick from deep into the box is flicked on by Pierre but the header loops comfortably over.
49min: Grimes' neat ball into the path of Waters looks to have given the Cobblers substitute a clear sight of goal but a great recovery tackle from Chicksen wins the ball back for City.
46min: The Bantams restart the match.
HT: Northampton Town 0 Bradford City 1
45min: There will be one minute of time added on at the end of the first period.
43min: Grimes' corner delivery to the far post is headed narrowly wide via a downward header from Pierre.
43min: Moloney's cross into the far post is brought down by Daniel Powell, who in turn feeds the ball back to Crooks. The giant midfielder goes for goal from just inside the box but the low drive takes a slight deflection on its way past the post.
38min: SUB - Northampton bring on Billy Waters for Long.
36min: So close from Vincelot! Adam Chicksen's curling cross into the box with his weaker right foot is on the money but a diving Vincelot is inches away from connecting with a diving header from close range in the middle!
34min: GOAL!!!!!!!!!!! Northampton Town 0 Bradford City 1 - McMahon fires City into the lead with a superb free-kick! After Alex Gilliead is fouled by Brendan Moloney following a surging run deep into Northampton territory, McMahon steps up and proceeds to curl the resulting set-piece into the top corner!
32min: Tony McMahon and Law play a short corner routine which eventually ends with Jake Reeves firing over from distance.
19min: A great curling delivery from Law into the box from just outside the area finds Wyke in between Northampton's two central defenders, Aaron Pierre and Taylor. Wyke does great to bring the ball down on his chest and shoot for goal but his effort is blocked out by Ingram as the 'keeper makes himself big.
13min: What a recovery from Nathaniel Knight-Percival! The defender's mis-hit attempted back-pass fails short, allowing Alex Revell to nip and run free towards City's area. As Revell makes his way to the edge of the box though, Knight-Percival dives in a well-timed and important tackle to redeem the situation.
9min: Chris Long's low drive from distance is straight at Colin Doyle.
7min: Romain Vincelot's low cross towards the near post finds Poleon but the the forward's close range strike isn't cleanly struck and the ball bobbles through to Ingram.
6min: Matthew Kilgallon's ball in behind plays Dominic Poleon into space, giving the striker the opportunity to run into the box. From a wide position, Poleon moves into the area before playing the ball across the box. Charlie Wyke is first onto the ball but he sees his shot blocked by Ash Taylor. The ball breaks free to Nicky Law but the midfielder's side-footed effort is straight at Matt Ingram.
2min: Matt Grimes' corner delivery ends up curling towards goal and Colin Doyle has to punch clear from almost underneath his own crossbar.
0min: Northampton kick off the match.
NORTHAMPTON TOWN LINE UP:
Ingram, Moloney, Buchanan, Taylor, Pierre, Poole, Grimes, Powell, Crooks, Long, Revell
Subs: Cornell, Kasim, Barnett, Waters, Richards, Hoskins, Smith
Northampton Town substitutions:
Waters for Long (38), Richards for Powell (68), Hoskins for Poole (74)
BRADFORD CITY LINE UP:
Doyle, McMahon, Knight-Percival, Kilgallon, Chicksen, Vincelot, Reeves, Law, Gilliead, Poleon, Wyke
Subs: Raeder, Thompson, Taylor, McCartan, Field, Jones, Patrick
Bradford City substitutions:
Patrick for Poleon (64), Thompson for Law (80)
Bradford City cautions:
Gilliead (84)
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Graham Horwood
Assistant Referee: David Plowright
Assistant Referee: Stephen Wade
Fourth Official: Aji Ajibola