NO CUP MAGIC FOR BANTAMS
Bradford have made a name for themselves as cup giant killers in recent years.
From heroics en route to the League Cup final to the extraordinary 3-2 comeback at Chelsea, the League One club’s fans have been spoilt with cup magic.
But it was the Bantams’ visitors who served up their higher-ranked hosts a taste of their own medicine thanks to goals from Romuald Boco and Jordan Clark.
“There will be a lot of upsets over the weekend but we couldn’t have had a more difficult place to come to than here so I would put our win up there,” said Accrington Stanley boss John Coleman.
“I’d be very surprised if Bradford aren’t a Championship team next year so I have to praise my players.
“We know we let ourselves down last week and we know we play better against the better teams.
“It’s amazing what football serves up. I’m reminding the fourth official that we’re making a sub and Jordan Clark was coming off so its sod’s law that he scores the winner.”
James Hanson’s goalbound header was cleared off the line by Mark Hughes in the first few minutes.
Mark Marshall was looking dangerous on the right wing for the hosts as he set up Filipe Morais to head wide before firing over himself.
Boco went even closer for the visitors with a long-range effort but it cannoned off the upright with Colin Doyle beaten.
The Stanley playmaker went one better on the half hour, however, as he guided Sean McConville’s cross into the bottom corner.
Haris Vuckic should’ve levelled after being put through by Morais but he was brilliantly denied by Elliot Parish.
Bradford began the second period better than the first, with substitute Jordy Hiwula testing Parish before Clark saw an effort from distance saved at the other end.
Stanley’s failure to add a second goal was punished as Matthew Kilgallon headed home Bradford’s equaliser with just over 15 minutes remaining.
A stunner from Clark proved the difference late on, however, as he collected Boco’s header and fired into the bottom corner.
“We’re in November and it’s the first time that I can say that I’m disappointed with the performance and the result,” said Bradford City boss Stuart McCall.
“Accrington raise their games in big stadiums and they were unlucky down at West Ham in the 1-0 EFL cup loss.
“We looked a little bit slow and lethargic. We didn’t deal with Boco well enough. We had a couple of opportunities in the first half we should’ve done better with.”
“All over the park I felt that they won more key battles than us.
“We got the goal and I thought we’d have a resurgence but we had no spark and that was disappointing.”