Saturday 25 November 2017
Sky Bet League One
Shrewsbury Town 0
Bradford City 1 (Nsiala OG 55)
Kick Off: 3:00pm
at the Montgomery Waters Meadow
Attendance: 7,165 (1,119 visitors)
The Bantams had to show all their defensive qualities to grind out a hard-fought victory away at previous league leaders Shrewsbury Town.
An own goal from Shrewsbury defender Aristote Nsiala, coupled with some determined defending from Stuart McCall's men, helped City to secure yet another three-point haul on the road this season.
A number of strong displays were needed by McCall's men, especially in defensive areas, as Shrewsbury - who were unbeaten at home this season until this weekend - showed plenty of the form and football which has made them League One's surprise package so far.
Stefan Payne went close on more than one occasion during a bright first half display from the hosts.
Ben Godfrey and Jon Nolan also had chances in the opening period but City were resolute and disciplined to keep the hosts at bay.
Shrewsbury came out after the break on the attack once again but it was the Bantams who found the opening goal ten minutes into the half.
Charlie Wyke's great first-time pass sent Gilliead into space down City's right flank. The winger tried to find an unmarked Paul Taylor in the middle but the cross was turned in by the out-stretched leg of Nsiala instead.
The Bantams thought they had doubled their lead soon after when Wyke beat Shrewsbury Town shot-stopper Dean Henderson to a Tony McMahon cross to head home.
Any celebrations were cut short, however, when it was deemed that the ball had gone out of play for a Shrewsbury throw-in just before McMahon crossed in.
With Shrewsbury throwing more men forward in the latter stages, City had to dig in and bravely defend their half.
Shaun Whalley and Shrewsbury sub Carlton Morris saw shots repelled by Rouven Sattelmaier in the final ten minutes.
Sattelmaier - who came into the side to replace the injured Colin Doyle - particularly impressed with a superb save to deny Whalley's top-corner-bound shot.
Play was briefly halted in the final seconds due to a supporter entering the pitch - but there was still time for one final moment of late drama.
As Henderson kicked long into City's area one last time, Shrewsbury tried a number of times to scramble in an injury-time equaliser but the Bantams threw themselves at the ball to eventually hack clear.
A Wigan win at Rotherham saw the Latics replace Shrewsbury at the top of League One.
This Shrewsbury victory for the Bantams means it is three away wins on the trot for City, with the two most recent coming against the league's top two.
FT: Shrewsbury Town 0 Bradford City 1
90+5min: There is an ALMIGHTY scramble in the City penalty box as Henderson kicks one final ball into the box but the Bantams eventually clear! City had to throw their bodies on the line to keep the ball out of their own goal there!
90+5min: Play resumes after the intruder is marched off the pitch.
90+4min: Play is suspended temporarily as a home fan comes onto the pitch.
90+3min: YELLOW CARD - Sattelmaier is booked for taking too long over a goal kick.
90+2min: Henderson comes up for a late corner but City eventually clear their lines.
90min: There will be three minutes of time added on at the end of the match.
89min: SUB - Shrewsbury bring on Lenell John-Lewis for Mat Sadler.
89min: Gilliead tries to play Robinson in for a run on goal but last-man Bolton gets across to make the vital tackle.
82min: As City try to clear their lines from the resulting corner delivery, Whalley lets rip with a powerful shot from just inside the box and Sattelmaier produces a superb save to tip over!
82min: Carlton Morris turns away from Thompson inside the box before firing in a fierce shot that from an angle that Sattelmaier has to push over with both hands.
78min: Rodman drives forward before firing in a low drive from outside the box that is held by Sattelmaier.
76min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Adam Thompson for Taylor.
73min: SUB - Shrewsbury bring on Carlton Morris for Godfrey.
65min: Gilliead's low drive from distance is gathered up on the bounce by Henderson.
64min: GOAL......NO! Wyke leaps above Henderson to head home into an unguarded net from a McMahon cross. Any City celebrations were instantly cut short, however, as the referee deems that the ball had already gone out for Shrewsbury's throw-in before McMahon's delivery.
62min: McMahon's whipped delivery into the box from a wide free-kick is headed into the side-netting by a stretching Knight-Percival over by the far post.
55min: - GOAL!!!!!!!!!!! Shrewsbury Town 0 Bradford City 1 - The Bantams take the lead after great play from Gilliead and Wyke. The City winger bursts into the box with a driving run down City's right wing after a superb first-time pass from Wyke. Gilliead tries to pick out an unmarked Taylor in the middle but the cross deflects off the stretching frame of Nsiala, who is trying to clear, and the ball bounces in past a helpless Henderson.
54min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Tyrell Robinson for Law.
54min: Nolan shows nice foot-work to get away from Jake Reeves but the midfielder's shot for goal from just inside the box sails some distance over the bar.
47min: Sadler's searching cross towards the far post is met by the head of Whalley but the effort is straight into the gloves of Sattelmaier.
47min: Whalley moves away from Nicky Law and Hendrie over on Shrewsbury's right flank before playing the ball low into the box. The ball finds an unmarked Nolan in the middle but the midfielder misses his kick and the chance is gone.
46min: The Bantams restart the match.
HT: Shrewsbury Town 0 Bradford City 0
45min: There will be one minute of time added on at the end of the first half.
45min: Whalley's cut-back from the right flank finds Godfrey just outside the box but his low drive for goal rolls wide.
44min: Payne gets away from Knight-Percival inside the area before firing in a low angled drive that Sattelmaier holds by his near post.
42min: Payne turns away from Knight-Percival just outside the box before firing in a fierce drive that whistles narrowly past Sattelmaier's far post.
40min: Godfrey lays the ball back into the path of Nolan and the midfielder curls not too far over with a shot from outside the box.
37min: Whalley drives forward with the ball from Shrewsbury's right flank, moving in-field in the process, before curling narrowly over with a left-footed drive from just outside the box.
32min: Whalley's searching cross towards the far post is headed on the roof of the goal via a looping effort from Rodman.
25min: Omar Beckles' back-pass puts Henderson under pressure and the Shrewsbury 'keeper hurriedly slices his clearance out for a throw-in with Charlie Wyke bearing down on him.
23min: YELLOW CARD - Hendrie is booked for bringing down Whalley down Shrewsbury's right flank.
21min: Alex Rodman's deflected shot from Bolton's cross into the box falls into the path of Payne. The striker looks set for a shot at goal from deep inside the box but Hendrie is able to kick clear just before.
19min: Shaun Whalley's flighted delivery towards the far post from a wide free-kick is headed narrowly wide by Godfrey.
16min: Godfrey shows good pace to burst into the City box from deep but McMahon is eventually able to halt his progress by getting his body in the way and the ball rolls through to Sattelmaier.
13min: McMahon's corner delivery drops at the feet of Gilliead just outside the box but his shot takes a touch off Knight-Percival before rolling wide.
10min: Good chance squandered by the hosts! Jon Nolan's scuffed shot from the edge of the box falls into the path of an unmarked Stefan Payne barely yards from goal. The striker is onside but his flick for goal is mistimed and the ball bounces away.
7min: Alex Gilliead's low delivery into the box tries to find Paul Taylor in the middle but the dangerous cross is crucially cut-out by Aristote Nsiala. Taylor was lurking there, any touch on the ball would have given the striker a great sight of goal.
6min: Nathaniel Knight-Percival stoops to reach a corner delivery from Tony McMahon towards the far post but the defender's touch on the stretch isn't contolled and the ball loops behind.
2min: After Godfrey beats Luke Hendrie to the ball by the byline, Bolton fizzes a strike across the box but his shot-come-cross flashes wide of goal and eventually rolls out for a goal-kick.
1min: James Bolton's clipped cross into the box is sent comfortably over Rouven Sattelmaier's crossbar via a looping header from Ben Godfrey.
0min: Shrewsbury Town kick off the match. The Bantams will attack towards their own supporters in the first period.
SHREWSBURY TOWN LINE UP:
Henderson, Bolton, Nsiala, Beckles, Sadler, Godfrey, Nolan, Whalley, Rodman, B Morris, Payne
Subs: MacGillivray, Riley, C Morris, Dodds, Gnahoua, John-Lewis, Adams
Shrewsbury Town substitutions:
C Morris for Godfrey (73), John-Lewis for Sadler (89)
BRADFORD CITY LINE UP:
Sattelmaier, McMahon, Knight-Percival, Kilgallon, Hendrie, Vincelot, Reeves, Law, Gilliead, Taylor, Wyke
Subs: Raeder, Thompson, Poleon, McCartan, Pybus, Patrick, Robinson
Bradford City substitutions:
Robinson for Law (54), Thompson for Taylor (76)
Bradford City cautions:
Hendrie (23), Sattelmaier (90+3)
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Michael Salisbury
Assistant Referee: Andrew Hendley
Assistant Referee: Abbas Khan
Fourth Official: Marvyn Amphlett