Defensive woes prove costly as Bradford City suffer successive away defeats

09/14/2024 05:14 PM

By Adam Raj

Walsall are the very opposite of a bogey side where Bradford City are concerned. Only two losses in 16, and no losses ever at the Bescot stadium in League Two.

Well that record is no more.

Last week’s morale boosting win against Carlisle resulted in an unchanged matchday 18 and Graham Alexander will have been hoping for a similar outcome at 5pm.

Long balls over the top and round the corner of City’s less than mobile back line was the not so subtle tactic employed by the hosts. But whilst simple, it was effective for sure. Walsall’s big chances arrived via this route, more so in the second half but also early doors. In one instance, Nathan Lowe was sent clear through as City stopped and hoped for a flag that never came. Sam Walker was the saviour that time – but was helpless minutes earlier when the hosts took the lead.

Niall Byrne had gone down with what looked to be a muscular injury and quite clearly signalled he was unable to continue. He returned to the field of play, either of his own or accord or because he was under instruction. Instantly, Walsall found themselves in a 1v1 with the City number five on the right flank. Unable to commit, Byrne backed off which allowed Charlie Lakin to be fed in the box and draw the foul from Richie Smallwood.

There seems to be a little debate about whether this was a penalty, but at the time my reaction was stone wall spot kick. Smallwood was late and sliding in. On a day where the officials got very little right, this was probably one of those decisions. In fact, Smallwood was probably fortunate to stay on the pitch. He'd only just been booked for a similarly late lunge in what was a really poor opening period for the City skipper.

Whilst Smallwood was guilty of the foul, City shouldn't have been in that position in the first place. It was clear as day that Byrne couldn't continue yet he was not replaced by Jack Shepherd until the damage was done. The fact he was not replaced earlier does not reflect well on Graham Alexander.

City remained under the cosh for several minutes after conceding. That Lowe chance and a flurry of corners came the way of the visiting goal but City survived without further damage.

And then against the run of play City found themselves level. Essentially this was a carbon copy of the opener last weekend against Carlisle. Jamie Walker hunted down Taylor Allen just inside the Walsall half, won the ball and drove forward. City's number seven squared this time for Olly Sanderson who calmly finished into the bottom corner past an outstretched Tommy Simkin.

It was City's only chance of note in what was another fairly lacklustre affair on their travels. Matters were further complicated when Ciaran Kelly was forced off with an injury that he was struggling with for at least ten minutes of the first period.

Alex Pattison was his replacement, meaning a switch to 4-4-2 at the break. Pattison partnered Smallwood, with Walker and Clarke Oduor out wide. Tyreik Wright an orthodox left back.

It showed signs of promise. Oduor became more influential, Pattison was lively, Walker was still involved and Brad Halliday wasn't the sole source of creativity on the right flank.

The chance of the game came eight minutes into the second period. Good work from Pattison released Oduor who drove forward and delayed the pass perfectly, teeing up Cook whose low cross was on the money for both Walker and Oduor. Somehow Walker missed it and – catching Oduor by surprise – the winger couldn't react quick enough to get any meaningful contact on the ball.

It really should've been scored by one of them.

Andy Cook then came close to scoring his customary goal at the Bescot when his header was clawed off the line by Simkin. Cheik Diabate nearly opened his City account with a cross shot that was close to embarrassing the Walsall number one.

The hosts continued to exploit City's vulnerabilities as Jamille Matt, Lowe and substitute Reyes Cleary all went close after breaking through.

It looked like a game where both sides would be playing the missed chances card, until substitute Danny Johnson popped up with the winner two minutes from time. Veteran Albert Adomah's right wing cross found Johnson in the centre of the goal and his guided header found the bottom corner. It really was atrocious defending from City who didn't have a defender anywhere near the match winner.

You can't even blame it on the system. It's just basic defending.

And that is still a big area of concern. City have been winning tight games in moments this season but the quality of their defending at times means they're capable of losing tight games too. There needs to be an improvement at both ends of the pitch, in consistency more than anything.