LEFT PEG IS JUST RIGHT FOR MARK
MARK Marshall learned a valuable half-time lesson from his Bradford manager Stuart McCall before consolidating the Bantams’ play-off position at Bury.
Marshall had not pulled the trigger in the first half when in a good position, earning a sharp word from his manager at the break.
That appeared to pay dividends as he broke the deadlock ten minutes into the second half, with a 25-yard left-footed drive, before Charlie Wyke sealed it six minutes from time.
The result has a damning effect for the Shakers whose cushion above the drop zone has been slashed to a point but Bradford now need only seven points from four games for at least a play-off place.
“It was a tough game so a great one to win,” McCall said. “Although we didn’t work their keeper much in the first half, we got into areas we wanted to.
“Mark Marshall had an opportunity in the first half when he cut inside and didn’t shoot but his left foot’s as good as his right.
“So I told him at half-time that when he gets an opportunity on his left to have a go.
“The penny dropped with him in the second half. He’s difficult for full-backs because normally you can send the winger one way and they’d only have one foot. But with Mark he’s got two good feet.
“He’s frustrating at times – that’s wingers for you – but it was a fantastic goal to get us up and running.”
Alex Jones and Wyke wasted opportunities to give the visitors an early advantage.
And Shakers striker James Vaughan blasted wide when oneon-one on the stroke of half-time.
But there would be no messing about after the break as Marshall found the bottom corner from distance.
Midfielder Callum Styles took aim from the edge of the box but he would not to be so lucky – Colin Doyle keeping the 17year-old at bay.
Bury keeper Joe Murphy made a number of fine saves but he was beaten again six minutes from time when substitute Jordy Hiwula broke down the left to set up Wyke for an easy tap-in.
To make matters worse, results went against Lee Clark’s side but he took solace from the fact they still control their destiny. “It’s still in our own hands,” Clark said. “If we get back to doing our job properly then we’ll be ok. “It’s getting extremely tight down there, we have to go again. “I’m obviously disappointed. I think the last couple of games we have come off it a little bit. We are letting the opponents dictate to us. “We have got to find a solution to that to get back playing on the front foot and take the game to the opposition and give their goalkeeper more problems, which we aren’t doing enough of.”