Match Report:
Bradford City 0
Shrewsbury Town 0
Thursday 12th April 2018 | Sky Bet League One | Northern Commercials Stadium
The Bantams responded excellently to last weekend's dismal defeat at Blackpool to earn a respectable point against promotion-chasing Shrewsbury Town in front of the Sky cameras. Alex Gilliead and Stephen Warnock went close in a first half that kept Town stopper Dean Henderson quite busy and Paul Hurst's side were reduced to ten men after an hour with Omark Beckles sent off for a second bookable offence. Despite the man advantage, Simon Grayson's side couldn't find a winner with the visitors showing equal intent to win the game.
Timothee Dieng came back into the team to put in a commendable performance in the middle of the park and he went close early on for the Bantams, heading just past the post from a Tony McMahon corner delivery. Seconds later, Colin Doyle had to be alert to push away a firm drive from the lively Alex Rodman.
The next opportunity came Alex Gilliead's way and it was a very presentable one. Stephen Warnock's deep cross to far post was kept alive by Charlie Wyke who headed the ball down into the centre and the City winger saw a shot on the bounce tipped over expertly by Town's Manchester United loanee stopper Dean Henderson.
Seconds later, Warnock himself had a shot from 20 yards on his weaker right foot pushed around the post by Henderson and McMahon's free kick had the opposing goalkeeper at full stretch but unfortunately for the Bantams the ball went agonisingly wide of the post.
Kai Bruenker was a real handful on his first start for the club since his January move from SC Freiburg and as he looked to burst into the area and potentially bear down on goal, he was tripped by Omar Beckles who recieved his first of what would ultimately be two yellow cards on a frustrating evening for him.
Rodman continued to look a threat on the left-hand side of midfield and saw a shot from a decent position fly harmlessly wide and over the bar into the Kop and then on the opposite flank, Shaun Whalley who himself was one of Town's best players, saw a low drive whilst just past Colin Doyle's post.
With time running out before the half-time interval, Town had their best chance of the half. James Bolton picked out the run with a superb raking pass into the City area and it was controlled by Jon Nolan who saw a shot go under the legs of Doyle but the Irish stopper got enough contact on the ball to stop it from squiriming over the line.
Shrewsbury started the second half on the front foot and Rodman saw a stunning strike from distance whistle just over the bar to let the Bantams off the hook - it wouldv'e been an impressive way to break the deadlock.
The game sparked into frantic action just before the hour with Doyle superbly keeping out Nolan once again before Gilliead was denied a goal by some excellent defending from Aristote Nsiala.
On the hour mark, Beckles was given his marching orders after losing control of the ball and stepping on the toes of Nathaniel Knight-Percival. The referee, David Webb was left with no choice but to send the defender off and the Shrews were left to play out the remainder of the game with ten men.
With a quarter of an hour remaining, Charlie Wyke spurned a great opportunity for the Bantams. Afforded too much time to deliver a cross from the right-hand side, McMahon's delivery found the Bantams forward and his header went marginally wide of the post.
The two teams certainly went toe to toe in an entertaining encounter but both defences were on top of their games to keep clean sheets. Bolton and Wyke both had late chances for their respective teams but it wasn't to be a win for either team with both having to settle for a hard fought goalless draw.