Match Report: Walsall 2 Bradford City 1

Walsall began the game brightly, with a Tommy Simkin pass being headed on by Jamille Matt, just four minutes into the contest, for Charlie Lakin, who fired goal-wards from distance, drawing a good save from Bradford goalkeeper, Sam Walker.

The Saddlers continued to press, with Jamie Jellis playing in Matt, two minutes later, but the strikers close range effort was well saved by Walker, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.

Bradford captain, Richard Smallwood, became the first player to draw the attentions of the referee, as he was cautioned just twelve minutes into the contest following a foul.

The visiting side were presented with a chance to open the scoring in the thirteenth minute, as Olly Sanderson created space to get a shot away some twenty yards out, but his low effort sailed wide of the target.

There was a brief halt to proceedings in the fifteenth minute, as Neill Byrne pulled up with what appeared to be an injured hamstring. Play got back underway, with the defender off the pitch, but he was soon able to rejoin the action.

With eighteen minutes on the clock, Walsall were awarded a penalty, as Lakin was felled inside the area by Smallwood. Taylor Allen stepped forth to take the spot-kick, and duly converted, putting Walsall ahead.

Neill Byrne's return to the action was short-lived, and he was replaced by Jack Shepherd in the twentieth minute.

The Saddlers felt they should have been awarded a second penalty in the twentieth minute, as Nathan Lowe was brought down by Ciaran Kelly inside the area, but the referee was unmoved by their appeals and waved play on.

Walsall looked set to double their advantage in the twenty-third minute, as Lowe found himself in position to shoot from close range, but Walker got down well to block his effort.

Things settled a little as the game continued, with much of the action confined to the midfield area, as both sides enjoyed spells on the ball without creating much going forward.

There was another pause in proceedings as we reached the half-hour mark, allowing Kelly to receive attention from the medical team, but he was soon back on his feet and play resumed.

With thirty-eight minutes on the clock, Bradford equalised, as somewhat against the run of play, Jamie Walker worked the ball to Oliver Sanderson, who fired home from close range.

There was another pause in play following the goal, as Bradford supporters threw a flare onto the pitch. It was soon dealt with, and play resumed.

Six additional minutes were added to end the first-half, during which time the Saddlers won a corner as a Ryan Stirk effort was blocked behind, but it came to nothing.

There was little other action of note though, and the sides headed off with the scores tied at one goal apiece.

Bradford made a change to their line-up as the sides returned, with Ciaran Kelly sitting out the second-half due to the injury sustained in the first, Alex Pattison taking his place.

Walsall began the half brightly, with Jellis playing the ball through to Matt within seconds of the restart, though the striker was unable to find the target as he poked the ball wide from close range.

The hosts continued to press, winning a corner four minutes into the half, as former Saddler, Andy Cook turned the ball out of play. The ball in was good, finding Stirk in shooting range, outside the area, but the midfielders strike sailed wide of the target.

Bradford soon had the ball up at the other end, where Cook crossed into the box, but both Sanderson and Clarke Oduor failed to make a connection and the chance went begging.

Jamie Walker became the second player to see yellow, as he was cautioned, in the fifty-sixth minute, for a foul on Allen.

City won a corner in the sixty-fourth minute, as a Cheick Diabate cross was turned behind by Simkin, but nothing would come of the flag-kick. The visitors continued to press, but the Walsall shot-stopper remained alert and got down well to deny Cook moments later.

The hosts chose to make a double change to their line-up, in the sixty-seventh minute, as Charlie Lakin and Nathan Lowe made way for Jack Earing and Reyes Cleary.

Andy Cook became the third player to see yellow, as he was cautioned for dissent, in the sixty-eighth minute.

Jack Shepherd joined those playing on a caution, in the seventy-third minute, as he was booked following a foul on Matt.

The bookings kept coming, with Harry Williams seeing yellow, in the seventy-fifth minute, as he was given a caution following a foul on Jamie Walker.

The Saddlers failed to deal with the resulting free-kick, allowing Odour time to get a shot away from the edge of the area, but his effort on goal was blocked by Williams, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.

With seventy-eight minutes on the clock, the Saddlers opted to make a further change to their line-up, with Jamille Matt making way for Danny Johnson.

Walsall brought on a fourth substitute just four minutes later, as Connor Barrett was replaced by Albert Adomah.

Bradford also took the opportunity to introduce some fresh legs, with Oliver Sanderson and Clarke Odour departed in favour of Vadaine Oliver and Bobby Pointon.

The hosts almost took the lead six minutes from time, as Cleary fired an effort goal-wards, but Brad Halliday was on hand to make the block to deny him.

Vadaine Oliver joined those already playing on a caution, in the eighty-sixth minute, just two minutes after joining the action, as he was shown the yellow card following a foul on David Okagbue.

Bradford City manager, Graham Alexander then joined his player listed in the referee's notebook, as he too was shown the yellow card.

Walsall regained their earlier advantage, two minutes from time, as Adomah crossed the ball into the box for Johnson, who headed home from close range.

Five additional minutes were added to end the match, but there was little further action of note, and the game was brought to it's conclusion with Walsall returning to winning ways as they beat Bradford by two-goals-to-one.