Sunday 17 November 2013
Sky Bet League 1at the Coral Windows Stadium
Kick Off: 3.30pm
Coventry City 3 (Webster 2, L Clarke 7, Wilson 42)
Bradford City 3 (Wells 17, 28, pen 90+5)
Attendance: 14,322 (717 visitors)
Pictures kindly provided by Claire Epton
A hat-trick-sealing penalty from Nahki Wells deep into injury time ensured City dramatically secured a point from a pulsating and action-packed contest with Coventry City in front of the Sky Sports camera this Sunday.
With virtually one of the last kicks of the game, Wells stepped up to smash home City's first spot-kick of the season after Coventry defender Jordan Clarke had handled Stephen Darby's cross in the area.
Wells' third goal of the game was the final say in a highly-entertaining encounter that was full of excitement, incidents and a number of talking points throughout.
Despite City's glorious finish to the game, the televised fixture couldn't have got off to a worse start for Phil Parkinson's men when they found themselves two goals down in only the seventh minute.
Central defender Andrew Webster opened the scoring with less than seventy seconds played when Jon McLaughlin and Rory McArdle got in each others way trying to deal with a Carl Baker free-kick. As a result of the tangle between McLaughlin and McArdle, the ball dropped loose in the area and the lurking Webster was able to rifle home despite the efforts of the recovering McLaughlin and Darby on the line.
Coventry's second of the afternoon came shortly afterwards when the pacey Callum Wilson got the better of McArdle to give himself a free run on goal.
McLaughlin did well to block Wilson's shot but the attacker's strike-partner, Leon Clarke, was waiting to pounce as he fired home the rebound.
With City understandably a little shell-shocked at this stage, they could have found themselves even further behind less than a minute later when Wilson again used his speed to get away from McArdle and give himself another clear sight of goal. Luckily for the Bantams though, McLaughlin was once more up to the task and managed to repel Wilson's effort.
After their shaky start, City slowly began to grow into the contest though. Parkinson's men thought they had a way back into the game when James Hanson powered a downward header for goal from a Garry Thompson's cross, but Coventry 'keeper Joe Murphy showed great reflexes to keep the close range effort out.
Hanson was to get the better of Murphy shortly afterwards, however, when he headed the ball past the on-rushing 'keeper, who had left his area to deal with a forward pass from Reid, to give Wells the opportunity to fire home into an unguarded goal.
The ball shouldn't have got through to Wells really, with Jordan Clarke missing in an attempt to kick clear following Hanson's initial header, but Wells made no mistake when presented with the chance, despite the presence of Blair Adams nearby.
Building on Wells' goal, City moved level for the first time in the match since the opening minute when the Bantams' Bermudian hot-shot pounced for his second of the game just before the half hour mark.
Matthew Bates' deep free-kick from inside his own half was flicked on by Hanson on the edge of the Coventry area and Wells swooped to steer the ball on the volley past Murphy from around six yards out.
Wells could have had further joy when he was involved in a penalty shout for City later in the half after he appeared to be nudged over by Jordan Clarke inside the area. City's protests were waved away though - much to the annoyance of the Bantams bench.
After the early Coventry domination, it was the Bantams who were looking the stronger side leading up to the break, but they were to be hit by another hammer-blow three minutes before the interval.
The dangerous Wilson fired Coventry into the lead once again with his twelfth of the season when rifled a thunderous strike past McLaughlin by his near post after driving into the box from a wide position.
There was controversy with roughly ten minutes of the second period played when Webster appeared to stick out an arm just outside his own area to block out a Hanson flick-on, denying Wells a clear run on goal in the process.
Webster was ipulled up for the foul, with Wells hitting the top of the crossbar with the resulting free-kick, but City were frustrated that the Scottish defender didn't at least receive a booking for the handball.
Shortly afterwards, however, they were thankful for some wayward finishing from Wilson when the Coventry attacker lofted an effort over the bar from inside the area after he'd stolen the ball off the toes of Bates.
With City trying to find a way back into the game as time ticked by, Hanson headed a promising opportunity over the bar from inside the six yard box after reaching up to connect with sub Mark Yeates' cross.
Despite their gallant efforts in a thrilling contest, City's race looked to be run as the clock moved into the fourth and final minute of injury time.
That was until Darby's flighted ball into the area from deep was knocked away from Hanson's head by the out-stretched hand of Jordan Clarke to give City a dramatic late lifeline.
Showing unbelievable composure in a pressure situation, Wells snapped up the match-ball and a share of the spoils for the Bantams by firing home the spot-kick in confident fashion.
FT: Bradford City 3 Coventry City 3
Wells smashes home the resulting spot-kick to snatch a point for City and secure his hat-trick in the process!90+5min: GOAL!!!!!! Bradford City 3 Coventry City 3 -
90+4min: PENALTY TO THE BANTAMS! - City have a spot-kick in the final minute of injury time! A long ball into the area by Darby sees Jordan Clarke flicks the ball off Hanson's head with his hand, leaving referee Friend with no option but to point to the spot.
90min: Coventry kick off the match. The Bantams will attack towards the T.L Dallas Stand end in the first period.
Horrible start for the Bantams as Andy Webster fires Coventry into a very early lead. Jon McLaughlin comes to claim a wide free-kick delivery from Carl Baker but he seems to be tagged by Rory McArdle, who is also going for the ball. The contact means the ball drops loose in the area, giving Webster the chance to smash home despite Stephen Darby's efforts on the line.2min: GOAL - Bradford City 0 Coventry City 1 -
0min:Things go from bad to worse for the Bantams when Leon Clarke doubles Coventry's lead with less than seven minutes gone. The pacey Callum Wilson dispossess McArdle in City's half before driving towards the penalty area. The striker's one-on-one effort is blocked by McLaughlin but Clarke is following up on the rebound to fire into an unguarded goal.7min: GOAL - Bradford City 0 Coventry City 2 -
Coventry nearly have a third when Wilson uses his pace again to beat McArdle to a ball forward. Wilson drives into the area to leave him one-on-one with McLaughlin. Thankfully for City though, McLaughlin manages to block Wilson's strike for goal before the Bantams just about scramble the loose ball behind for a corner. 8min:
An inviting cross from Nahki Wells from just outside the area finds Kyel Reid in space but his volley on the stretch from around ten yards out goes wide. 9min:
For a second, it seems as if Garry Thompson is set for a free run on Joe Murphy's goal after being spotted by Nathan Doyle. Thompson tries to bring Doyle's forward pass under control but the lurking Blair Adams is just about able to dispossess inside Coventry's area before clearing. 14min:
James Hanson is denied by a great reaction save from Murphy! Hanson rises up to connect with a delightful first time cross from Thompson but the striker's powerful downward is repelled by Murphy, who just about manages to cling onto the ball as well as the second attempt.
17min:The Bantams are back in the game through Nahki Wells! Coventry 'keeper Murphy comes out of his area to deal with a ball forward from Reid. Hanson is first to the pass, however, and heads past the stranded shot-stopper. Jordan Clarke tries to clear but he completely misses his kick, allowing Wells to latch onto the bouncing ball inside the area. Wells then shows great composure to fire home into the unguarded goal despite the presence of Adams nearby.17min: GOAL!!!!!! - Bradford City 1 Coventry City 2 -
McLaughlin flings himself low to his left to tip an effort from outside the area by Baker around the post. 21min:
A flighted corner delivery from Adams finds the lurking John Fleck unmarked just inside City's area. The Scottish midfielder connects sweetly with a volley but the effort is blocked. His two follow up efforts are also blocked, despite Coventry claims Fleck was fouled at the time, before Jordan Clarke rolls the loose ball just past the post with a strike from the edge of the area. 22min:
Baker's teasing in-swinging delivery has City under some pressure but a vital flick off the head of McArdle prevents Leon Clarke from connecting with the ball from close range over by the far post.
25min:The Bantams are level! Matthew Bates' free-kick delivery from inside his own half is flicked on by Hanson and Wells just beats Murphy to the ball to steer home from around six yards out.28min: GOAL!!!!! - Bradford City 2 Coventry City 2 -
Gary Jones is booked for City following a tackle from behind by the Bantams skipper on Baker just inside Coventry's own half of the pitch. -YELLOW CARD30min:
City fans scream for penalty when Wells appears to be nudged over by Jordan Clarke insider the area as the striker tries to race onto Thompson header forward. Much to City's annoyance though, nothing is given and play continues. 37min:
Wilson looks for a second to be in with a sight of goal when he latches onto a looping Leon Clarke flick forward. Wilson tries to get in at goal from an angle but Bates slides in with the saving tackle and the Coventry striker can eventually only fire wide for a goal-kick. 37min:
Jones takes aim from outside the area but his low drive whistles narrowly wide of Murphy's near post. 38min:
Wells' free-kick effort from just outside the area flicks off the Coventry wall and behind for a corner. 41min:
After City twice keep the ball alive from a corner that follows, Doyle fires for goal with a looping strike on the volley from the edge of the area. The shot takes a massive deflection, completely wrong-footing Murphy in the process, but the effort bounces wide of goal and out for another corner. 41min:
Bates connects with Meredith's hanging cross into the area but the defender header is straight at Murphy, who gathers easily.
42min:After a good period of play from the Bantams, Wilson fires Coventry back into the lead with a great strike from a tight angle. Bates appears to have done enough to half the attacker's progress inside the area but Wilson still beats McLaughlin at his near post with a fierce rising drive.42min: GOAL - Bradford City 2 Coventry City 3 -
McArdle heads narrowly wide of goal following Jones' delivery into the box from a free-kick outside the area. 44min:
Baker's free-kick from around 25 yards out takes a nick off the City wall before McLaughlin is able to get across his goal and gather the flighted effort. 45min:
There will be three minutes of time added on at the end of the first half. 45min:
McArdle is first to a cross from Doyle but the defender appears to get underneath the ball and can only head over from around six yards out. 45+2min:
Conor Thomas is booked after catching Reid with the winger in full flow down City's left flank. Referee Kevin Friend does let play go on before eventually booking the Coventry midfielder during the next break in play.
-YELLOW CARD45+3min: HT: Bradford City 2 Coventry City 3
The Bantams restart the match. 46min:
Cyrus Christie runs forward with menace deep into City territory but his strike from just outside the area on his weaker left foot sails well wide of goal. 46min:
Franck Moussa's low drive from a fair distance out is saved by McLaughlin after a diving stop from the 'keeper tips the effort around the post. 49min:
Leon Clarke's shoots for goal from inside the area after Baker keeps a Coventry corner in the mix, but the outstretched boot of Doyle turns it around the post. 50min:
Wilson shoots for goal from outside the area after being set up by Leon Clarke but the effort sails well wide. 55min:
Wells clips the top of the crossbar with a free-kick from just outside the area! Despite the award of the free-kick though, City are not happy that Webster is not at least booked for a handball that seemingly denies Wells a chance to run in on goal. 56min:
Wilson in with a sight of goal again but, with Darby coming across to try and cover, the striker lofts an effort over the bar from around fourteen yards out. 57min:
Wells tries to scramble the ball home after Hanson had kept a Jones corner in the mix over by the far post. Wells' snap-shot on the stretch from close range sails well over. 59min:
The Bantams bring on Mark Yeates for Thompson. 68min: SUB -
Adams is booked for catching Doyle with a late tackle midway into Coventry's half. -YELLOW CARD71min:
A diving Leon Clarke is itches away from connecting with Wilson's teasing ball into the six yard box from wide. 73min:
Hanson heads over from inside the six yard box following Yeates' hanging cross into the area. The chance was a good one but Hanson seems to get underneath the ball. 73min:
Wells latches onto Yeates' forward pass into the area but his first time shot from an angle lacks the power and precision to trouble Murphy. 75min:
Christie's cross into the area finds Wilson but his header from around the penalty spot is straight at McLaughlin. 79min:
Wells' header from just inside the area following Darby's cross is clung onto by Murphy.
80min: The Bantams bring on Alan Connell for Bates, meaning City will now operate with a 3-4-1-2 formation. 83min: SUB -
Coventry bring on Aaron Phillips for Moussa. 84min: SUB -
The Bantams bring on Raffaele De Vita for Reid. 85min: SUB -
Wilson is booked for not retreating following the award of a City free-kick. -YELLOW CARD86min:
There will be four minutes of time added at the end of the game.
BRADFORD CITY LINE UP
McLaughlin, Darby, McArdle, Bates, Meredith, Thompson, Jones, Doyle, Reid, Wells, Hanson
Subs: Ripley, Kennedy, Yeates, Taylor, Connell, Folan, De Vita
Bradford City changes:
Yeates for Thompson (68), Connell for Bates (83), De Vita for Reid (85)
Bradford City cautions:
Jones (30)
COVENTRY CITY LINE UP
Murphy, Christie, Adams, Webster, J Clarke, Baker, Thomas, Fleck, Moussa, L Clarke, Wilson
Subs: Burge, Barton, Daniels, Phillips, Loza, Garner, Haynes
Coventry City changes:
Phillips for Moussa (84)
Coventry City cautions:
Thomas (45+3), Adams (71), Wilson (86)