Match Report:

Bradford City 0

Plymouth Argyle 1 (Jervis 35)

Saturday 11th November 2017 | Sky Bet League One | Northern Commercials Stadium

The Bantams were left frustrated as Plymouth Argyle defended resolutely to claim three points after Jake Jervis gave his side the lead. Stuart McCall's men dominated proceedings and had the lions' share of the ball but it wasn't enough to get anything from the game. Paul Taylor and Jake Reeves struck the bar with efforts from distance and Tony McMahon missed a late penalty to leave the Devon club celebrating a victory on their travels.

City made a bright start to the game with Romain Vincelot and Paul Taylor threatening inside the opening ten minutes. Plymouth barely got out of their half in the early stages and Jake Reeves started a smart move involving Charlie Wyke and he almost ended it with a goal but for a loss of footing inside the penalty area as he moved closer to the goal.

David Fox came close to diverting Aaron Taylor-Sinclair's dangerous low cross towards goal and then Wyke came close to scoring twice within the space of a minute. His first opportnity was a free header that was blocked by Sonny Bradley after he'd connected with Nicky Law's cross and the next was a low drive from outside the box which went inches wide of the post.

Tony McMahon, back in the side after serving a one-match suspension saw a free kick held onto by Remi Matthews in the Argyle goal before supplying a delivery for Vincelot to power a header over the bar from close range. A let-off for the visitors.

Against the run of play, Jake Jervis gave the visitors the lead with ten minutes of the second half remaining. Lionel Ainsworth got in behind Tom Field on the right-hand side and his low delivery was turned in at full-stretch by the long leg of the Argyle forward to leave the Bantams with it all to do. The task made even more difficult by the visitors' defensive set-up.

Taylor was a constant bright spark for the Bantams and after seeing a curling shot tipped over the bar by Matthews, on the stroke of half-time he attempted a powerful shot from 25 yards which was similar to his goal against Oldham, but on this occasion the Argyle stopped managed to tip the ball onto the bar and behind for a corner.

Taylor was looking to try his luck from distance at any given opportunity and he saw another one early in the second half go a yard or so wide before Taylor-Sinclair skewed a shot wide for the visitors after Jervis had engineered an opening for him.

Tyrell Robinson was introduced as a half-time substitution in place of Tom Field and he produced a lively second half performance. His first involvement was to deliver a cross to the far post and the ball dropped to McMahon who spurned an excellent opportunity. The full-back couldn't quite sort his feet out and skewed a shot over the bar.

David Fox's effort from distance for Argyle was initially fumbled by Colin Doyle who had returned from international duty with the Republic of Ireland to start, thanfully though he recovered to claim the ball and make sure that the visitors wouldn't be scoring a second goal.

The woodwork had already been rattled by Taylor's terrific attempt in the first half and Jake Reeves was the next to be denied. The City midfielder took aim with a half-volley from 20 yards which looked to have beaten Matthews but came back off the bar much to the frustration of the home crowd and players alike. Frustration being the key word all afternoon.

Joel Grant was once a Bradford City trialist under Phil Parkinson and he came close to doubing his side's lead, but he couldn't quite get under Ainsworth's cross enough to hit the target.

City never stopped looking for an equaliser and were given an opportunity to get an equaliser when a penalty was awarded for a Taylor-Sinclair foul on Vincelot. Tony McMahon stepped up to take it but was denied by an excellent save by one of Argyle's best players on the day, Norwich loanee stopper Matthews.

Robinson had been bright in trying to provide a goal for his side from an attacking left-back position and he first sight of goal came in the fying embers of the game. Unfortunately though, he dragged a volley wide of the mark after the ball dropped to him on the edge of the box.

Colin Doyle ventured forward into the Argyle box as City rolled the dice one last time deep into injury time but although Law came close with a glancing header, the visitors held on for an impressive three points on the road. The Bantams left to lick their wounds and prepare for next week's trip to Wigan.

Bradford City: Doyle; McMahon, Knight-Percival, Kilgallon, Field (Robinson 46); Law, Vincelot (c), Reeves (Gilliead 65), Taylor; Jones (Poleon 71), Wyke

Unused Subs: Sattelmaier, Thompson, Hendrie, Gibson

Plymouth Argyle: Matthews; Sawyer (c), Bradley, Edwards, Taylor-Sinclair; Songo'o; Ainsworth (Sarcevic 63), Diagouraga, Fox (Blissett 83), Grant; Jervis

Unused Subs: Cooper, Miller, Wylde, Lameiras, Fletcher