Hoodoo for Stu is finally at an end
STUART McCall admits he was relieved to finally end an FA Cup jinx after securing his first FA Cup win at Valley Parade in ten years.
Chesterfield were dispatched after goals from Alex Gilliead and Alex Jones gave the highflying Bantams a routine victory.
And City boss McCall was ecstatic witht he professionalism of his troops.
“It was all about having the right attitude and obviously we needed a bit of quality for the goals,” he said.
“Chesterfield played without fear and passed it about well, but we scored two really good goals.
“It was a decent cup tie, with chances for both sides, and it’s just nice to get through.
“We just want to keep the momentum going and the feelgood factor – plus everyone knows my record is rotten in this so it was good to win!”
And Spireites boss Jack Lester believes the defeat could serve as a good experience as his side look to climb to league safety.
Lester said: “We kept the ball moving quite well and got in behind their midfield, but we were not decisive enough. It is something that we need to improve on and something we will improve on.
“We are trying to get the intensity up. Bradford are a lot higher than we are at the moment and that showed, but we competed with them.
“We’ve got Swindon next and we’ll head there on the front foot. They’re doing well, but they’ll be no better than Bradford.”
Gilliead got City off to a flyer when he picked out the bottom corner after Jones carved open the defence on four minutes.
The Spireites responded well with top scorer Kristian Dennis and Andy Kellett both going close. Tim Dieng almost netted either side of the half-hour mark as the Bantams looked for a knockout goal.
And the pressure paid off when Jones dinked the ball over Joe Anyon on 44 minutes to put Bradford in control. Joe Rowley blew a glorious chance to get Chesterfield back into it when he volleyed Kellett’s cross over on 50 minutes.
Anyon saved well from Charlie Wyke’s 25yard volley on the hour mark to keep Chesterfield in it.
He then palmed away Paul Taylor’s shot before Jones blazed the rebound over on 68 minutes.
Meanwhie, Kellett and Dennis failed to test Colin Doyle with hopeful shots in the closing stages as time ran out for Chesterfield in this year’s competition.