BRADFORD CITY AFC

Proctor netted the all-important winner five minutes after the break when he nipped in behind Crewe defender George Ray to latch onto Nathan Clarke's free-kick from deep before firing past home shot-stopper Ben Garratt.

The Crewe victory was City's fourth in their last five games, their only defeat in that run coming away to second-placed Wigan Athletic.

With the game coming just 48 hours after the Millwall victory on Saturday, a great physical and mental effort was required from Phil Parkinson's men to see out the win as Crewe pushed for a way back in the match.

Looking for a way to battle themselves off the bottom of the table, Crewe applied territorial pressure on Parkinson's men in the closing stages but City still looked the more likely scorers on the counter-attack.

Second half replacement Steven Davies made a claim for a spot-kick five minutes from the end of normal time when he appeared to be bundled over by Garratt and Jon Guthrie as he burst through into the box.

Referee Kevin Wright seemed to suggest Guthrie had got a vital touch on the ball, however, as play was allowed to continue.

Crewe had initially started the game the stronger, with Lauri Dalla Valle firing wide from the edge of the box with the hosts' best early opening, before Parkinson's side imposed themselves more on the match in the final quarter of the opening period.

Stephen Darby fired wide with an angled drive from inside the box while Billy Clarke and Proctor missed the target with headers.

City's improvement in the game continued after the break and was capped by Proctor's match-winner just minutes into the second half.

90+3min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Josh Morris for Reid.

90+2min: Meredith's cross into the box is met by Hanson but his connection lacks power and Garratt is able to gather.

90min: There will be four minutes of time added on at the end of the match.

85min: Inman's teasing cross into the six yard box goes across goal and a watchful Darby has to put the ball behind for a corner.

85min: City appeal for a penalty when Davies bursts into the box but nothing is given. Davies initially holds off David Fox before knocking the ball past Ray and running into the area. Garratt and Guthrie close in on the striker as looks to shoot. Davies goes down under of Garratt and Guthrie as the ball trickles away. Davies appeals for a penalty but it seems that Guthrie may have got something on the ball with his tackle.

84min: The ball is played into Udoh's feet just inside the box but his shot on the turn is blocked by Nathan Clarke.

82min: SUB - Crewe bring on George Cooper for Ainley.

81min: Latching onto Knott's weighted ball forward, Hanson crashes the ball across goal from the byline but the effort sails over the bar and out for a goal-kick.

79min: McMahon's well-timed pass plays Davies into space behind Crewe's defensive line. The striker moves into the box but his cross-come-shot is held by Garratt by his near post.

77min: Reid lines one up from distance but his strike flies harmlessly high and wide of Garratt's goal.

76min: Inman takes aim from outside the area but his shot sails over Williams' bar.

72min: SUBS - The Bantams bring on Steven Davies and James Hanson for Billy Clarke and Proctor respectively.

72min: Tom Thorpe's hanging cross into the area is met on the volley by Billy Clarke but his strike from just inside the box hits the frame of Reid and goes out for a throw-in.

70min: SUB - Crewe bring Daniel Udoh for Dalla Valle. From the resulting free-kick into the box following McMahon's earlier foul, the ball eventually drops into the path of the Crewe substitute but he hooks the ball wide with his back to goal.

70min: YELLOW CARD - McMahon is booked for bringing down Bakayogo roughly midway into City's half of the pitch by the near touchline.

67min: Nathan Clarke's long throw-in into the box is glanced on by Proctor but the ball drops down just behind a lurking Billy Clarke and Garratt can gather up.

63min: McMahon's effort from the resulting free-kick roughly 25 yards out is held by Garratt.

62min: YELLOW CARD - Ray is booked for bringing down Reid with the winger in full flown looking to burst forward at pace towards Crewe's penalty area.

55min: Bingham drives the ball across the box but Kirk's touch over by the far side is only slight and his effort rolls away from goal.

53min: Billy Clarke beats Crewe's offside trap to race clear down City's left flank. The Irish attacker moves into the box and tries to find a team-mate in the middle but his low centre is kicked away by Oliver Turton.

46min: Reid's low centre across the box eventually drops into the path of McMahon but his effort for goal is blocked by Billy Bingham.

46min: The Bantams restart the match.

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

44min: McMahon's teasing cross into the box finds Proctor lurking but the striker appears to get underneath the ball, heading over from close range while challenging in the air with a Crewe defender.

38min: Darby is at the heart of a great chance for the Bantams! Billy Clarke's clever flick forward around the edge of the box finds the City skipper deep in space inside the area. With Proctor calling for the ball to be squared across to him, Darby appears in two minds for a second but eventually decides to shoot, with his low strike going wide of the far post.

33min: Darby plays Tony McMahon into space down City's right wing and the midfielder's cross towards the near post is glanced across goal and out via the head of Billy Clarke.

30min: Proctor tries to latch onto Billy Clarke's clever forward pass but a watchful Ben Garratt is out quickly to gather up the ball just before the City striker. 

26min: Played into space down City's left flank by Kyel Reid, Jamie Proctor drives into the box and towards the byline. Proctor tries to cut the ball back from close range but a recovering George Ray is able to get an important block in the middle.

24min: Crewe break from another cleared City corner, this particular attack forward seeing Inman driving at pace into the Bantams' penalty area. Inman tries to burst past Darby but the defender blocks his route to goal, allowing Williams to gather up the loose ball. Inman appeals for a spot-kick following the block by Darby but nothing is given.

17min: Oliver Turton's testing cross low into the six yard box is put behind for a corner by Routis.

14min: Inman's attempted through-ball for Lauri Dalla Valle is intercepted by Christopher Routis but the Frenchman's touch is slightly loose unfortunately, allowing the Finnish striker to eventually get on the end of the pass after all. Dalla Valle shoots for goal from the edge of the area and his low drive rolls narrowly wide of Williams' near post.

7min: From a cleared City corner, Crewe break with real purpose via an attack led initially by Callum Ainley. The young midfielder carries the ball forward into City territory before finding Inman just outside the box. Inman feeds Charlie Kirk into space inside the area but his low cross-come-shot from a tight angle is blocked behind by Ben Williams.

3min: Billy Bingham plays Bradden Inman into shooting space inside City's penalty area but the Crewe attacker's drive for goal is blocked by the outstretched leg of Stephen Darby.

0min: Crewe Alexandra kick off the match.

3:01pm: The Alexandra Stadium falls silent for a minute to honour the victims of the recent terrorist attacks in Pakistan and Belgium.

Garratt, Turton, Ray, Guthrie, Bakayogo, Fox, Bingham, Ainley, Kirk, Inman, Dalla Valle

Subs: Richards, Davis, Nugent, Cooper, Jones, Hitchcock, Udoh

Udoh for Dalla Valle (70), Cooper for Ainley (82)

Ray (62)

Williams, Darby, N Clarke, Routis, Meredith, McMahon, Thorpe, Knott, Reid, B Clarke, Proctor

Subs: Cracknell, Hanson, Morris, Leigh, Morais, Davies, Anderson

Davies for B Clarke (72), Hanson for Proctor (72), Morris for Reid (90+3)

McMahon (70)