Bradford City’s inconsistency continues as Exeter City move closer to automatic promotion

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It was another sour day at Valley Parade as Bradford City’s inconsistent run in the league continued with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Exeter City. 

Huddersfield Town loanee Kieran Phillip scored just before half-time to clinch another vital victory for the Grecians as they continue their charge up the league table. 

Despite securing a win on Tuesday evening, Bradford were simply not at the races and it was a poor showing compared to the one in their midweek victory against Stevenage.

On the whole, however, the game was not a great advert for League Two with large parts of the game being very scrappy. 

After a quiet opening, the first big chance fell to the visitors. On 28 minutes, Timothee Dieng planted a free header wide from eight yards out as Exeter looked to put themselves into the driving seat.

Bradford responded with their best chance of the half as Nathan Delfouneso teed up Levi Sutton but his fizzing shot went just past the post.

The decisive goal came just before the half-time interval. Phillips lobbed a helpless Alex Bass from a tight angle as the ball bounced in with the visitors taking a 1-0 lead at the break.

A big second half was needed from the hosts as Sutton again tested goalkeeper Cameron Dawson, but his shot from outside the box was pushed over by the Exeter shot-stopper.

It soon nearly went from bad to worse for Bradford and for Bass as he came racing out of his goal to try and deny Jevani Brown. The forward skipped past the goalkeeper with ease and looked certain to score but was stopped by Yann Songo’o’s last-ditch tackle that denied a second for the Grecians.

Exeter were certainly searching for a second as Jake Caprice tried his luck with a fierce drive but Bass did well to push his effort away.

It was certainly turning into a frustrating afternoon for the Bantams and the complexity of the match was perfectly summed when Theo Robinson’s cross fell between Tom Elliott and Andy Cook who both hesitated for as the ball trickled across the box.

Elliott had Bradford’s best chance when he met Elliot Watt’s free-kick only to see his header cleared off the line and his side slumped to another defeat. 

It appears to be doom and gloom around the claret and amber half of West Yorkshire as a partying bus from Exeter will be travelling back to Devon with the hopes of automatic promotion. 

The Grecians move up to fourth after today’s win and sit within two points of Northampton Town in third as they face Harrogate Town in their next fixture.

On the other hand, Derek Adams’ struggling Bantams stay 11th with the gap between them and seventh spot increasing to eight points. They travel to Oldham Athletic next weekend in the hopes of a win. 

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