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Club News

Bradford City 1 MK Dons 0

22 February 2014

Club News

Bradford City 1 MK Dons 0

22 February 2014

Saturday 22 February 2014
Sky Bet League 1
Bradford City 1 (Hanson 71)
Milton Keynes Dons 0
Kick Off: 3.00pm
at the Coral Windows Stadium

Attendance: 13,501 (253 visitors)
Pictures kindly provided by David Heaton

The Bantams made it back-to-back 1-0 home wins in a week thanks to hard-fought victory over Milton Keynes Dons.

City's match-winner came via James Hanson with just under twenty minutes left after the striker took advantage of an air-kick from MK Dons 'keeper David Martin to tap home from close range. 

The goal was Hanson's tenth of the season and his fourth in City's last seven games. 

The victory ensured Phil Parkinson's side secured the 'double' over MK Dons - City's first of the season - after defeating them at stadiummk back in November.

While Tuesday's victory over Port Vale might have been all about the Bantams' dominance in possession and their persistence, this Saturday's win over a talented MK Dons side was more about City's discipline and dogged determination.

The Dons had their fair share of play throughout the contest and put the Bantams under some periods of pressure but Parkinson's men never let their visitors get a foothold in the game.

Dons striker Izale McLeod had his side's best chance of the first period when his forceful drive inside the area was repelled on the goal-line by a watchful Stephen Darby.

MK Dons also could have had a penalty in the opening minutes when Rory McArdle appeared to tangle legs with McLeod inside the box.

In reply, City's brightest opening for the first period came shortly before the break when Hanson struck the crossbar after Andrew Davies had headed a free-kick from Gary Jones back across the area.

With MK Dons still looking a threat after the break and Aaron Mclean struggling after picking up a knock, Parkinson took the decision to replace the City striker with Chris Atkinson and move to a 4-3-3 formation just past the hour mark.

The move worked as City looked a stronger unit thereafter, limiting MK Dons' attacking threat as a result. With nineteen minutes remaining, things got even better for the Bantams after Hanson closed down MK Dons 'keeper Martin following Stephen Gleeson's looped back-pass.

As Martin went to volley clear the bouncing ball, he completely missed his kick, allowing Hanson to nip in and tap home from barely yards out.

After MK Dons' earlier penalty shout, City had their own contender just seven minutes before the end of normal time when Dean Lewington appeared to trip up substitute Garry Thompson as the pair raced for the ball inside the area.

Strangely, despite Lewington seemingly getting none of the ball, a corner kick was awarded instead.

Thanks to a number of substitutions, plus injury time-outs from Mclean, Jon McLaughlin and MK Dons' George Baldock, City had to endure almost nine minutes of added time at the end of the game.

One teasing late cross from Ryan Hall aside though, City coped with their nerves to hold on for another welcome win.

FT: Bradford City 1 Milton Keynes Dons 0
90+7min: McLaughlin is able to continue once more but this should mean even more time added on here at the Coral Windows Stadium.
90+6min: McLaughlin is down receiving treatment after appearing to hurt his shoulder claiming a headed back-pass from McArdle while under pressure from Odelusi and McLeod.
90+5min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Matthew Dolan for Reach.
90+4min: Reeves takes aim from around 20 yards out but his effort sails well wide of goal.
90min: There will be six minutes of time added on at the end of the match.
86min: YELLOW CARD - McLeod is booked for catching Davies with a stray arm as the pair challenge for the ball in the air just inside City's half.
83min: Jones' cross is headed goalwards by Hanson from only few yards out. Martin keeps out the effort before Hanson's second effort is deflected behind for another corner.
83min: Dean Lewington flies in as he and Thompson race for the ball inside the area. Lewington appears to catch the Bantams winger but no penalty is given, however, only a corner.
81min: McLaughlin's long kick forward is headed down by Hanson and Doyle comes onto the ball around 20 yards out and fizzes in a fierce drive that narrowly beats the crossbar.
79min: SUB - MK Dons bring on Sanmi Odelusi for Chadwick.
77min: SUB - MK Dons bring on Baldock, who still appears to be limping, for Ryan Hall.
75min: YELLOW CARD - Kay is booked for bringing down Thompson will a lunging tackle just inside the MK Dons half of the pitch by the near touchline.
75min: Baldock is back up and ready to continue.
72min: George Baldock is down received treatment following a tackle from McHugh.
71min: GOAL - Bradford City 1 Milton Keynes Dons 0 - Hanson fires City into the lead of the match! A bouncing back-pass from Stephen Gleeson is missed by Martin as the 'keeper goes to kick clear and the lurking Hanson taps home from a few yards out.
68min: Anthony Kay heads over from Reeves' resulting corner.
67min: Reeves' cross-come-shot along the six yard box is blocked behind by McLaughlin by the 'keeper's near post.
65min: SUB - Mclean comes off shortly afterwards, however, as Chris Atkinson replaces him. The Bantams will now line up in a 4-3-3/4-5-1 formation.
64min: Mclean returns back onto the field to continue.
63min: Mclean is down receiving a spot of treatment after falling heavily just outside City's penalty area.
58min: A combination of a diving Jones and McLaughlin manage to block Daniel Powell's close range effort by the near post after the winger had driven dangerously towards the byline.
56min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Garry Thompson for Bennett.
46min: Milton Keynes Dons kick off the second half.
HT: Bradford City 0 Milton Keynes Dons 0
45min: There will be two minutes of time added on at the end of the first half.
43min: CHANCE -Hanson hits the crossbar! A lofted Jones free-kick into the box is headed back across the area by Andrew Davies into the path of Hanson, who does well to get over the bouncing ball and send a half-volley crashing against the bar.
38min: Darby's cross into the area is eventually headed into the path of Hanson by Gary Jones. With his back to the net, Hanson hooks the ball goalwards but his effort from around twelve yards out loops over the bar.
37min: Hanson's low pull-back from the byline deflects into the path of Nathan Doyle but the midfielder's first-time effort from the edge of the box flashes comfortably wide of Martin's goal.
36min: Reeves finishes a run across the edge of City's penalty area with a low yard that trickles across goal and wide of McLaughlin's far post.
29min: Hanson looks for a second to be through with a sight on goal after latching onto a ball forward and holding off the presence of Jordan Spence. Just as Hanson goes to shoot for goal, however, the striker is flagged for offside. On first glance, the decision looks very debatable, and the home crowd howl their displeasure as a result. 
28min: Dele Alli's clever through-ball sees Chadwick get the better of McHugh inside the area but McLaughlin is out quick to dive at the MK Dons attacker's feet and clutch hold of the ball.
26min: Stephen Darby is perfectly placed on the line to hook clear after McLeod's powerful shot from inside the area looked to be finding the far corner. McLeod's angled effort across goal had come after the striker had turned away from Carl McHugh around ten yards out.
23min: McLaughlin's free-kick from just inside City's half is headed down by Hanson into the path of the waiting Kyle Bennett but the winger's half-volley from the edge of the area is held by Martin.
15min: Luke Chadwick's cut-back from the byline finds the lurking Reeves but with Adam Reach breathing down his neck inside the area, the ball eventually bobbles into McLaughlin's grasp.
15min: Ben Reeves' powerful strike from the edge of the penalty area is repelled by a strong right arm from McLaughlin.
7min: Stephen Gleeson's free-kick from a decent position just outside the area on MK Dons' left flank sails harmlessly over Jon McLaughlin's crossbar.
4min: McArdle's long free-kick from just inside City's half is flicked on by James Hanson into the path of Aaron Mclean. The Bantams striker just gets to the ball before the on-rushing David Martin but Mclean's close range effort is repelled by the frame of the MK Dons 'keeper.
3min: Rory McArdle and Izale McLeod seem to tangle legs as the ball breaks into City's penalty area. The visiting supporters in the T.L Dallas Stand behind the goal appeal for a spot-kick but referee Gary Sutton is unmoved.
0min: The Bantams will kick off. City appear to have been switched around after losing the toss, meaning they will attack towards the Kop in the first half.

BRADFORD CITY LINE UP
McLaughlin, Darby, McArdle, Davies, McHugh, Bennett, Jones, Doyle, Reach, Mclean, Hanson

Subs: Jameson, Dolan, Gray, Thompson, Yeates, McBurnie, Atkinson

Bradford City changes:
Thompson for Bennett (56), Atkinson for Mclean (65), Dolan for Reach (90+5)



MILTON KEYNES DONS LINE UP
Martin, Baldock, Spence, Kay, Lewington, Alli, Gleeson, Reeves, Chadwick, Powell, McLeod

Subs: McLoughlin, Smith, Hall, Odelusi

Milton Keynes Dons changes:
Hall for Baldock (77), Odelusi for Chadwick (79)

Milton Keynes Dons cautions:
Kay (75), McLeod (86)



MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: G Sutton
Assistant Referee: M Coy
Assistant Referee: R Wigglesworth
Fourth Official: M Dwyer

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