BRADFORD CITY AFC

Aided by a superb second half showing, Phil Parkinson's men secured their second away win of the season thanks to goals from Lee Evans and Devante Cole, plus an own-goal from Dale defender Oliver Lancashire.

Evans' opener came just after the half hour mark when he tapped home from close range after a Tony McMahon free-kick had deflected into his path. 

Rochdale denied City a half time lead, however, when Peter Vincenti latched onto Callum Camps' scuffed shot into the box to fire past the recalled Ben Williams.

City looked in determined mood from the very off after the restart though, and they wrestled back the lead of the game earlier into the second period.

Steven Davies, who worked tirelessly up front, won the ball off Jim McNulty by the byline before trying to pick out strike-partner Cole in the middle. 

Joe Rafferty and Josh Lillis combined to deny the striker initially but Cole eventually scrambled the ball home at the second attempt.

City doubled their new-found lead less than two minutes later when Lancashire headed into his own goal following Evans' teasing ball into the area.

The Bantams' lead could have increased further shortly afterwards when Kyel Reid, who was hugely impressive on his first start back at the club, picked out Davies with a well-placed centre.

Davies took the cross on his chest before sending an overhead kick narrowly wide of Lillis' near post.

Rochdale responded to City's strong start after the restart by making a triple substitution with roughly twenty minutes left.

Shortly before the Rochdale introductions, Calvin Andrew could, and perhaps should, have pulled one back for the hosts when he volleyed over from close range.

One of Dale's substitutes, Lewis Alessandra, also saw an effort from a corner kicked clear from right in front of goal but, in truth, City ran out comfortable and deserved winners in front of a delighted away support at Spotland Stadium.

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90+3min: Lund's curling free-kick from just outside the box is superbly turned around the post by a diving Williams.

90min: There will be five minutes of time added on at the end of the second period.

90min: Marshall sees two efforts blocked from a free-kick just outside Rochdale's penalty area.

86min: James Meredith's low cross into the box finds James, who sees his shot for goal on the turn blocked. James picks up the loose ball again and this time lays it off to McMahon but his effort from the edge of the area is sliced wide.

84min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Mark Marshall for Reid.

82min: Evans muscles his way into a shooting opportunity deep inside the box but his near post shot from close range is blocked behind by the frame of Lillis.

81min: Reid's teasing cross from wide is spilled by Lillis but the lurking Hanson is just unable to pounce before Rochdale can kick clear.

81min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Luke James for Cole.

80min: Kennedy's corner delivery eventually finds Alessandra lurking in space over by the far side. His shot towards goal is threatening but it is blocked by at least one City player in front of their own goal.

79min: Andrew's looping header on the stretch from a Kennedy's wide free-kick delivery sees Williams play it safe and elect to tip the ball over for a corner.

78min: Andrew's flick on from a long kick forward finds the run of Lund but the midfielder's rising drive is held at his near post by Williams.

77min: Reid fires comfortably over the bar with a direct free-kick from around 25 yards out.

74min: Kennedy's corner delivery eventually finds Lund but the midfielder heads over while under pressure deep inside City's penalty box.

71min: Cannon's deflected drive from just outside the box is held by a diving Williams.

69min: SUBS - Rochdale make a triple substitution by bringing on Matthew Lund, Lewis Alessandra and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing for McDermott, Camps, Allen. 

68min: SUB - The Bantams bring on James Hanson for Davies.

67min: YELLOW CARD - Davies is booked for catching Cannon late with a high boot midway into Rochdale's half of the pitch.

65min: Kennedy's cross is fumbled by Williams while under pressure and Andrew fires over from barely yards out clean on the volley. Big chance for Rochdale there...

63min: So close from Davies! The striker takes a Reid cross on his chest before firing in an overhead kick from around ten yards out which bounces narrowly wide of Lillis' near post. 

60min: Reid sprints clear of Allen and into Rochdale's half of the pitch before finding Davies with a low cross into the area. The striker shoots for goal but the effort is blocked behind by McNulty.

58min: Liddle flicks on Evans' resulting near post corner delivery but the ball goes across the six yard box and past any nearby City players.

57min: Two Rochdale players seem to get in each other way just outside the own box, resulting in Evans being given the space to drive towards the hosts' penalty area. The midfielder eventually works himself into a shooting opportunity but his drive is saved by Lillis before the ball is put behind for a corner by a Rochdale defender.

53min: Evans' teasing delivery from a wide free-kick nearly reaches the stretching Davies in the middle but the ball just misses him and bounces into the gloves of Lillis.

51min: McMahon's invitingly ball in behind has Cole running at Rochdale's goal. The striker turns inside of Jim McNulty before firing in an early drive from just outside the box that is well held by Lillis.

46min: Davies latches onto Liddle's header and turns away from Oliver Lancashire but his rising drive from outside the box sails comfortably high and wide of Josh Lillis' goal.

46min: The Bantams restart the match.

45min: There will be two minutes of time added on at the end of the first half.

44min: McDermott drives into the box with purpose but his low drive is blocked behind by a sliding Stephen Darby for a Rochdale corner.

38min: The home fans appeal for a penalty as Burke and Andrew challenge in the air for Kennedy's cross into the box. Rochdale want hand-ball against Burke but nothing is given and play continues.

30min: YELLOW CARD - Liddle is booked for a late slide tackle on McDermott around the halfway line.

29min: City break forward on a counter-attack led by Gary Liddle. Devante Cole appears in a decent position in the middle for a pass but the midfielder elects to pass wide to Kyel Reid instead. City eventually win a corner which leads to nothing.

27min: Joe Rafferty and Steven Davies are both given a stern dressing-down by referee Mr Tony Harrington after the pair appear to clash following a physical tangle for the ball. In fairness to Davies, he does appear to have been on the receiving end of some strong defending so far this afternoon.

24min: Calvin Andrew heads over from Vincenti's cross deep into City's penalty area.

23min: Callum Camps tries his luck direct from a free-kick around 25 yards out but his effort sails harmlessly into the stand behind Williams' goal.

12min: Tom Kennedy plays the ball back into the box after McDermott's initial free-kick is headed away. Williams tries to punch clear but he appears slightly impeded by a ruck of players. Peter Vincenti eventually hooks an effort comfortably wide of goal on the stretch. 

6min: Reece Burke is put under pressure by Jamie Allen on the edge of his own box, resulting in the defender hurriedly playing the ball back to Ben Williams, who just kicks clear in time.

4min: Rory McArdle flicks on Lee Evans' long throw-in into the box and Andy Cannon has to put the ball behind for a corner to prevent any lurking City players from pouncing.

1min: YELLOW CARD - Donal McDermott is booked for a late lunge on Tony McMahon right in front of the City fans over by the far side of the pitch.

0min: Rochdale kick off the match.

Lillis, Cannon, Lancashire, McNulty, Kennedy, Rafferty, Allen, Camps, Vicenti, McDermott, Andrew

Subs: Diba Musungu, Eastham, Lund, Alessandra, Noble-Lazarus, Mendez-Laing, Bunney

Rochdale substitutions:
Lund for McDermott (69), Alessandra for Camps (69), Mendez-Laing for Allen (69)

Rochdale cautions:
McDermott (1)

Williams, Darby, McArdle, Burke, Meredith, McMahon, Liddle, Evans, Reid, Davies, Cole

Subs: Jones, N Clarke, Marshall, Hanson, Knott, Leigh, James

Bradford City substitutions:
Hanson for Davies (68), James for Cole (81), Marshall for Reid (84)

Bradford City cautions:
Liddle (30), Davies (67)