Saturday 2 September 2017
Sky Bet League One
Bradford City 3 (Wyke 13, 62, 73)
Bristol Rovers 1 (Bodin 81)
Kick off: 12:30pm
at the Northern Commercials Stadium
Attendance: 19,284 (395 visitors)
A superb Charlie Wyke hat-trick helped an impressive City side to a deserved victory over Bristol Rovers this Saturday.
In front of the Sky Sports cameras, Stuart McCall's men put in arguably their most complete performance of the season so far to secure a comprehensive win over a Bristol Rovers team who had won their four previous league and cup games coming into this weekend.
After a strong start by the Bantams, Wyke fired City into the lead in the thirteenth minute when he latched onto Romain Vincelot's flick on from a Tony McMahon corner to fire home from close range.
Ahead of his assist, Vincelot had already gone close himself to opening to scoring with a thumping header just past the post from another McMahon delivery.
City continued to dominate as the first period wore on, but Rovers could have levelled near to the break but for a Nathaniel Knight-Percival block on the line from a Byron Moore header.
Wyke doubled City's advantage just past the hour mark when he powered a downward header past a rooted Sam Slocombe, McMahon on hand once again to act as provider from a corner.
Making his first home start of the season, Wyke completed his hat-trick seventeen minutes from the end when he headed in from close range from Jake Reeves' hanging cross to the far post.
Rovers pulled one back nine minutes from the end when Billy Bodin tapped in after Tom Nichols' curling effort from outside the box had hit the post.
The goal gave Rovers some late hope but, in truth, City were comfortable and deserved winners at the end.
FT: Bradford City 3 Bristol Rovers 1
90+4min: Nichols' low drive from outside the box takes a touch off a City player on its way past Doyle's far post.
90+3min: McMahon goes for goal with a free-kick from outside the area and the curling effort bounces just past Slocombe's far post.
90+2min: Gilliead's low drive from outside the box is held by Slocombe.
90min: There will be four minutes of time added on at end of the match.
88min: Gilliead's pass across the box to Patrick gives the young striker a shooting chance and he fires narrowly over with a first time effort.
81min: GOAL - Bradford City 3 Bristol Rovers 1 - The visitors have a goal back when Bodin is on hand to fire into the empty net after Nichols' curling drive from outside the box had hit the post and left Doyle committed.
78min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Alex Jones for Wyke.
76min: Vincelot's header from McMahon's corner is straight at Slocombe.
73min: GOAL!!!!!!!!Bradford City 3 Bristol Rovers 0 - Wyke has his hat-trick! Reeves' hooked cross from the byline towards the far post is out of the reach of Slocombe and Wyke is on hand to head home from close range.
72min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Omari Patrick for Poleon.
72min: SUB - Bristol Rovers bring on Rory Gaffney for Harrison.
66min: A neat flick from Wyke finds Law in space outside the area. Law drives forward towards the edge of the box before firing in a rising drive that is held by Slocombe.
65min: Bodin comes inside onto his left foot from Rovers' right flank before curling over with a shot from outside the box.
62min: GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!Bradford City 2 Bristol Rovers 0 - Wyke doubles City's lead! McMahon's corner delivery into the middle is a good one, and Wyke is on hand to power a downward header past a rooted Slocombe.
59min: Gilliead's low cross into the box is controlled and then laid off by Wyke towards Law, who is pushing forward just into the area. Law goes to pass the ball into the corner but the effort is blocked away by a Rovers defender.
58min: SUB - Bristol Rovers bring on Tom Nichols for Moore.
56min: Brown takes aim with a free-kick from just outside the box but the driven effort deflects off the Bantams wall and City can clear.
54min: YELLOW CARD - Vincelot is booked for a foul on Harrison around the halfway line as Rovers looked to spring forward on the counter-attack.
51min: A loose touch from McMahon allows Harrison to latch onto the ball in a dangerous position just outside the box. Harrison is crowded out by a couple of recovering City defenders, however, and his eventual shot on goal deflects behind off Matthew Kilgallon.
49min: Vincelot's ball with the outside of his boot towards Gilliead inside the area is cut out but Wyke is quickly on the loose ball, firing narrowly wide of Slocombe's near post.
46min: The Bantams restart the game.
HT: Bradford City 1 Bristol Rovers 0
45min: There will be one minute of time added on at the end of the first half.
45min: Jake Reeves goes for goal from around twenty-five yards out but the rising effort flies a good distance over Slocombe's crossbar.
43min: Clarke takes aim from outside the area and his fierce drive whistles not too far past Doyle's far post.
39min: Wyke holds the ball up for the on-rushing McMahon, teeing the right back up for a shot. McMahon does indeed take the shot on but his left-footed drive sails some distance wide of goal.
38min: McMahon's low cross into the box is flicked comfortably wide of Slocombe's far post by Wyke.
37min: A good chance for Rovers! A flighted cross into the box by Brown sails over the head of Doyle but Ellis Harrison behind him manages to keep the ball in play. With Doyle out of position, Byron Moore has a good opportunity to score from close range but his downward header is blocked on the line by Nathaniel Knight-Percival.
33min: The minor problem for Poleon resulted in a brief stoppage but the striker is soon able to continue.
32min: Poleon is down and seemingly in some discomfort after appearing to take a blow while challenging for the ball with a Rovers defender.
28min: Poleon tries his luck from some distance and Slocombe has to gather up the powerful effort at the second attempt head of the lurking Wyke.
27min: A great chance for City to double their lead! Law is played into space inside the box by Gilliead. Law drills the ball across the six yard box but a little deflection appears to take it out of the path of Poleon, who is looking for a tap-in over by the far post.
24min: McMahon's corner to the near post is glanced on by Law but the midfielder's header drops onto the roof of the net.
20min: Lee Brown's slack backwards pass gives Dominic Poleon the chance to run towards Rovers' penalty area. Tom Broadbent does well to force the striker wide, however, and Poleon eventual shot from a tight angle inside the box is held by Sam Slocombe.
18min: McMahon's cross into the area is headed out as far as the lurking Law just outside the box. Law goes for goal but his connection isn't clean as Rovers defenders go to crowd him out and his effort is sliced comfortably wide.
15min: Ollie Clarke's corner delivery is met by Jonathan Burn but the defender's looping header is easily held by Doyle.
13min: GOAL!!!!!!!!!! Bradford City 1 Bristol Rovers 0 - Wyke has City in front! From another McMahon corner, Vincelot flicks the ball on via his head and Wyke in on hand to prod home from around six yards out.
5min: Romain Vincelot goes so close! From Tony McMahon's dangerous corner delivery, an unmarked Vincelot connects with a firm header. Some in the crowd think the ball is heading into the net but the header somehow flashes just wide.
3min: Nicky Law drives into the box after receiving the ball from Charlie Wyke. Despite moving away from a couple of Bristol Rovers defenders, Law can't quite get his shot away and Alex Gilliead in the end fires over with a left-footed drive.
1min: Billy Bodin goes for goal from outside the box but his shot on the turn flashes wide of Colin Doyle's near post.0min: Bristol Rovers kick off the match. The Bantams will attack towards the T L Dallas Stand end in the first period.
BRADFORD CITY LINE UP:
Doyle, McMahon, Knight-Percival, Kilgallon, Chicksen, Gilliead, Vincelot, Reeves, Law, Poleon, Wyke
Subs: Raeder, Taylor, Field, Hendrie, Jones, Devine, Patrick
Bradford City substitutions:
Patrick for Poleon (72), Jones for Wyke (78)
Bradford City cautions:
Vincelot (54)
BRISTOL ROVERS LINE UP:
Slocombe, Leadbitter, Burn, Broadbent, Brown, Sercombe, O Clarke, Lines, Harrison, Moore, Bodin
Subs: Andre, Nichols, Telford, Bola, Partington, Gaffney, Menayese
Bristol Rovers substitutions:
Nichols for Moore (58), Gaffney for Harrison (72)
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: David Webb
Assistant Referee: Graeme Fyvie
Assistant Referee: Ian Dudley
Fourth Official: Ben Toner