Scunthorpe United 0 Bradford City 2
The Bantams made it nine matches unbeaten and six consecutive clean sheets with a superb away victory at Scunthorpe United at a bitterly cold Glanford Park. City looked bright from the off and went ahead from the penalty spot; Tony McMahon making no mistake from 12 yards after Kyel Reid had gone down in the box. Greg Leigh doubled the lead in the second half, latching onto Billy Clarke’s pass to lash a shot past Luke Daniels from a tight angle to make it two goals in as many matches.
City started the game well, but Scunthorpe had the first chance of the game inside the first chance of the game; Ian Henderson got in behind and played a ball into the box, Paddy Madden helped it towards the far post where Neal Bishop was lurking but the former Blackpool man put the ball wide of the target.
Tony McMahon confirmed City’s route into the second round of the FA Cup in mid-week with a penalty against Aldershot Town and he came close to opening the scoring a couple of minutes later; his free kick from 30 yards was tipped over the bar precariously by Luke Daniels.
There were plenty of chances early in the game and Kyel Reid really should’ve opened the scoring after five minutes; Billy Clarke won the ball high up the pitch and found debutant Jordan Bowery and his low cross wasn’t connected with cleanly by Reid to let the hosts of the hook.
United had a golden chance to take the lead after nineteen minutes but were denied superbly by the in-form Ben Williams. Gary McSheffrey saw an angled drive pushed away before the City stopper got back to his feet quickly to deny Neal Bishop with the follow up.
Midway through the first half, City were awarded a penalty after McSheffrey had brought down Kyel Reid in the 18 yard box. The referee was quick to award the penalty and McMahon did the job from 12 yards, firing into the roof of the net down the middle of the goal.
City made a fantastic start to the second half putting the hosts on the back foot; Billy Clarke saw a shot held onto by Daniels before Bowery produced a powerful run into the area from the left flank before seeing a right footed shot saved well by the Scunthorpe stopper.
The goal was coming and indeed it came with Greg Leigh scoring a superb goal for the second time this week; following a neat passage of play, Billy Clarke played Leigh into the area and the left back hammered a shot across goal and into the far corner, leaving Daniels with no chance and celebrating in front of the travelling army of supporters behind the goal.
Kyel Reid capitalised on a mistake by former Preston North End teammate Scott Wiseman to race through on goal following a Scunthorpe corner at the other end; in credit to the United full back, he recovered well to make a vital block, denying Reid what looked to be a certain goal.
Luke Williams and Kevin van Veen were introduced from the Scunthorpe subs bench and they both combined soon after; Williams’ corner was met by a near post header by van Veen and Ben Williams made a great reaction save to keep the Dutchman off the scoresheet.
van Veen should’ve scored with his next chance; Williams got the better of McMahon on the left flank before delivering a low cross into the area, van Veen controlled the ball before shooting wide from 12 yards. It was a gilt edged chance and he really should have buried it.
Luke James came off the bench and ran himself into the ground to help City see out the fixture.
United had had their chances and they weren’t to have anymore, although at the other end of the pitch Lee Evans almost added gloss to the scoreline in injury time with a 25 yard strike on his weaker left foot which Daniels had to tip over the bar.