Saturday 8 March 2014
Sky Bet League 1
Brentford 2 (Donaldson 61, Saville 75)
Bradford City 0
Kick Off: 3.00pm
at Griffin Park
Attendance: 8,063 (958 visitors)
A second half double from promotion-chasing Brentford handed City a defeat on their latest visit to the capital.
Bradford-born Clayton Donaldson gave the hosts the lead just after the hour mark before George Saville's deflected drive fifteen minutes from the end settled the game for the Bees.
With City starting with a 4-5-1 formation - Chris Atkinson supporting Aaron Mclean in attack when possible - Phil Parkinson's side limited their high-flying hosts to very little in the opening hour of the game.
In truth, City probably had one of the best chances of the first half when loanee Atkinson, who was making his first start in City colours, blasted over after being picked out in a decent position inside the box by a Kyle Bennett cross.
Despite Parkinson's men looking strong against one of League 1's most challenging outfits, Donaldson did eventually break City's resistance when he drilled home a low left-footed drive from just outside the area in the 61st minute.
Brentford then twice went close to doubling their lead shortly afterwards as the Bantams opened up slightly and tried to push for a way back in the match.
Donaldson fired over from close range with one attack before Jon McLaughlin kept out headers from Marcello Trotta and Jake Bidwell with two smart saves in quick succession just a minute later.
Mark Warburton's side did grab a second later in the half in scruffy fashion when Saville struck from the edge of the area with a shot that bobbled through a crowd of City players before spinning into the far corner past a helpless McLaughlin.
McLaughlin was able to deny Saville in the final minutes of the match, however, when he made a great block to repel a header from close range by the midfielder following Alan Judge's ball into the box.
Recent loan signing Adam Drury was given his City debut late on but the defender picked up a booking for a mistimed challenge in injury time.
FT: Brentford 2 Bradford City 0
90+2min:YELLOW CARD–Drury is booked for a late tackle over by the near touchline just inside Bradford’s half.
90+1min:Judge’s cross-come-shot is blocked by McLaughlin by his near post.
90min:There will be five minutes of time added on at the end of the match.
89min:Reeves’ low drive from outside the area is comfortable enough for McLaughlin.
86min: SUB –Brentford bring on Stuart Dallas for Donaldson.
86min:McLaughlin produces a great reaction save to deny Saville from almost point blank range after the midfielder had headed for goal from close range following Judge’s cross.
84min: SUBS –The Bantams bring on Garry Thompson and debutant Adam Drury for Mclean and McHugh respectively. Thompson will now partner Gray in attack.
83min:Jones’ corner delivery narrowly beats McArdle at the near post before flashing across Brentford’s goal.
81min:Trotta escapes a booking despite a debatable tumble in the area as he tries to win a penalty as McLaughlin dives at his feet. With the ball rolling out of play, a goal-kick is awarded.
79min:Jones runs forward with purpose towards Brentford’s penalty area but his low drive from around 20 yards out lacks the power to trouble Button too greatly.
77min:Judge’s flighted centre across goal is narrowly missed by the jumping frame of Reeves in the middle of the six yard box.
75min: GOAL – BRENTFORD 2 BRADFORD CITY 0 –Brentford double their lead when Saville’s deflected drive from the edge of the area bobbles into the corner of McLaughlin’s goal.
74min:Gray’s header for goal from a Jones corner is repelled relatively comfortably by Button.
73min:Reeves’ initial strike inside the area is blocked by the diving frame of McHugh before the midfielder’s second effor6t is straight at McLaughlin.
71min: SUB –The Bantams bring on Andy Gray for Atkinson.
71min:Saville curls a direct free-kick from just outside the area over the bar.
68min:Brentford go close again when McCormack’s in-swinging cross to the far post is headed onto the bar by Trotta via McLaughlin’s finger-tips. With the ball still in play, Bidwell looks set to head home the rebound from barely yards out but McLaughlin is quickly up again to make an impressive block.
67min:Brentford should really have a second after they catch City short at the back. Trotta plays the ball across the box to the waiting Donaldson but the striker can only fire over the bar from barely six yards out.
66min: SUB –Brentford now bring on Marcello Trotta for Grigg.
63min SUB –Brentford bring on Jake Reeves for Forshaw.
61min: GOAL – BRENTFORD 1 BRADFORD CITY 0 –Brentford have the lead when Donaldson fires a low left-footed drive from just outside the area that beats McLaughlin by his near post.
60min:Mclean is now back on the pitch complete with head-band and numberless blood shirt.
60min:Bidwell’s corner delivery finds an unmarked Tony Craig lurking near the far post but his effort is blocked out.
59min:Kyle Bennett moves in-field before firing in a low drive from just outside the area that bobbles wide of Button’s far post.
59min:With Mclean off the pitch, Jones sends a free-kick delivery into the area towards Rory McArdle. McArdle beats Tarkowski to the ball but he can’t quite get a clean connection on the delivery despite being in a good position.
57min:For the second time this afternoon, Mclean is down receiving treatment after another clash of heads.
56min:Donaldson glances a downward header a yard or so wide of McLaughlin’s far post following Adam Forshaw’s in-swinging free-kick delivery.
51min:Saville tries his luck from around 25 yards out but his low drive bounces comfortably wide of McLaughlin’s goal.
48min:Judge’s low cross into the box finds Will Grigg but the striker’s effort from around eight yards out bounces narrowly wide of McLaughlin’s goal.
46min:The Bantams restart the match.
HT: Brentford 0 Bradford City 0
45+2min:Adam Reach runs forwards with intent before firing in a rising strike just outside the box that goes over David Button’s bar.
45min:There will be two minutes of time added on at the end of the first half.
34min:Jake Bidwell’s teasing cross into the area takes a touch of the glove of the diving McLaughlin before hitting Matthew Bates and going out for a corner.
29min:Saville fires in a low drive from just outside the area that doesn’t miss McLaughlin’s goal by too much.
24min:James Tarkowski sends a looping header onto the roof of McLaughlin’s net following Alan McCormack’s ball into the area from the resulting free-kick.
24min:Referee Mr Bond has a word with Bantams boss Phil Parkinson after the City chief had shown his displeasure following a slightly controversial free-kick decision given against his side just inside Bradford’s half.
23min:With play now back underway, Mclean is able to carry on with the game.
22min:Aaron Mclean is down in the aftermath of that Atkinson chance after appearing to take a whack following a collision with Brentford’s Jonathan Douglas.
21min:Chris Atkinson controls a Kyle Bennett cross into the box but his half-volleyed effort on the turn flies over.
15min:Running at City’s defence, Alan Judge takes aim and shoots from just outside the area but his low effort rolls wide of McLaughlin’s goal.
14min:Up for a half-cleared City corner, Carl McHugh sends a looping header a yard or so over after being picked out in the box by a Gary Jones cross.
8min: City clear a Brentford corner as far as the waiting George Saville but his looping effort on the volley from around 20 yards is some distance wide.
6min: Clayton Donaldson finds some space just inside City's penalty area but his curling shot sails comfortably wide of Jon McLaughlin's far post.
0min: Brentford kick off the match.
BRENTFORD LINE UP
Button, McCormack, Tarkowski, Craig, Bidwell, Douglas, Donaldson, Saville, Forshaw, Judge, Grigg
Subs: Lee, O'Connor, Dallas, Fillo, Reeves, Yennaris, Trotta
BRENTFORD CHANGES:
Reeves for Forshaw (63), Trotta for Grigg (66), Dallas for Donaldson (86)
BRADFORD CITY LINE UP
McLaughlin, Darby, McArdle, McHugh, Bates, Bennett, Jones, Doyle, Reach, Atkinson, Mclean
Subs: Jameson, Drury, Gray, Thompson, Yeates, McBurnie, Stockdill
BRADFORD CITY CHANGES:
Gray for Atkinson (71), Drury for McHugh (84), Thompson for Mclean (84)
BRADFORD CITY CAUTIONS:
Drury (90+2)
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Assistant Referee: S Butler
Referee: D Bond
Assistant Referee; J Magill
Fourth Official: G Muge