SORRY GRECIANS SUFFER OFF DAY
THREE players were sent off in the second half as Bradford City replaced Exeter in second place in League Two after beating them at Valley Parade. It was the visitors’ third away defeat in a row.
The Grecians lost two players, skipper Jake Taylor and Tom Parkes, for straight red card cards, while Bradford’s Callum Cooke was also dismissed for a second yellow.
But neither Bradford manager Gary Bowyer nor opposite number Matt Taylor had any complaints at referee Michael Salisbury’s decisions to send off the three players.
Of the victory, Bowyer said: “That was a good win and we are absolutely delighted to score two goals and keep a clean sheet. The players feel there is more to come from us.
“Our second goal was a great example of chasing down for James Vaughan to score and the timing just before half-time was excellent.
“I thought Harry Pritchard was immense, but Callum Cooke should not be getting sent off.”
And Taylor added: “I am proud of these players, which is strange when you are beaten 2-0, but we took heart from how we played in the first half hour against a good Bradford team.
“There are positives to take, but this is a results business and we have to be more clinical in the opposition’s 18yard box.”
Bradford had the first chance of the match in the fourth minute when Harry Pritchard crossed from the left and skipper James Vaughan saw his close-range volley blocked at the far post.
Exeter dominated the play after that, but the nearest they came to scoring was in the 17th minute when leading scorer Nicky Law, a former Bradford midfield player, scuffed his shot after a right wing cross found him unmarked in the box.
Bradford took the lead against the run of play with an own goal in the 31st minute from Pierce Sweeney as he tried to defend Zeli Ismail’s right wing cross to the far post, with striker Aramide Oteh lurking behind him
The home side added a second in first-half stoppage time when Oteh chased a long pass down the middle and appeared to be fouled by Aaron Martin. However, as Bradford appealed for a penalty, the ball ran free to Vaughan to score from the edge of the six-yard area.
Exeter dominated the start of the second half but were unable to reduce the deficit, with the dismissals dominating proceedings.
In the space of three minutes. Taylor was shown the red card for a reckless tackle on Connor Wood in the 60th minute and two minutes later Cooke was sent off for a second yellow card after a foul on Law.
Exeter were then reduced to nine men when Parkes was sent off for bringing down substitute Dylan Connolly.
BRADFORD: O’Donnell 6, Henley 6, Richards-Everton 6, A O’Connor 6, Wood 6, Ismail 6 (Connolly 77, 6), Cooke 4, Akpan 6 (Anderson 87), Pritchard 7 (Devine 73, 6), Vaughan 8, Oteh 6. Subs not used: Mellor, Paudie O’Connor, Patrick, Sykes-Kenworthy.
EXETER: Maxted 6, Sweeney 7, A Martin 6, Parkes 4, Williams 6, Taylor 4, Collins 6, Woodman 6 (Richardson 84, 6), Law 6, L Martin 6 (Seymour 70, 6), Bowman 6. Subs not used: Atangana, Jay, Fisher, Moxey, Visser.