ARISTOTE ERRSAS BATTLING BANTAMS TAME THE SHREWS
SHREWSBURY dominated the game but it was Bradford who walked away with the points as Aristote Nsiala’s own goal was enough to knock the Shrews off the top of the table.
League One’s best home record was up against the division’s best away record.
Something had to give and it was the Shrews, who suffered their first home defeat of the season, in so doing they were overtaken by Wigan at the top.
This was not Bradford at their best but their doughty defending and dogged determination delighted manager Stuart McCall.
He said: “It was not a vintage performance. We were on the back foot for most of the game, especially the first half, but we played well as a team, kept in the game and were rewarded with a great result.
“We were made to work extremely hard. Once we got the break that put us in front we held onto the lead with a combination of gutsy defending and team work.
“We showed this team can scrap when it needs to and get a result against a formidable side.
“It is a massive three points, keeps us in the mix, but we have to continue to produce good team performances like this if we are to be there come May.”
Shrewsbury flew out of the blocks with Ben Godfrey heading over in the first minute. Before the second minute was out, James Bolton saw his angled shot from the right bounce agonisingly wide of the far post.
Stefan Payne then missed a glorious opportunity to open the scoring on nine minutes. Jon Nolan’s scuffed shot spun to Payne who, on the edge of the six-yard box with only Rouven Sattelmaier to beat, found the ball entangled between his feet.
Payne never managed to get the ball under control, Tony McMahon, saw to that, nipping in to clear his lines.
On 19 minutes, Shaun Whalley’s free-kick on the right was met at the far post by Godfrey who headed
wide as the home side upped the ante.
With Whalley a bundle of fiery endeavour on the right and Bryn Morris’ repertoire of short and long passes of slide rule precision, Payne and Alex Rodman were prompted and persuaded into ceaseless action.
On the half hour, Payne fired wide after Whalley and Bolton linked well on the right. Rodman saw a header skim the bar following a glorious ball from Morris. On 36 minutes, Whalley’s driving run ended with a shot that flashed just over, as did a shot from Nolan two minutes later.
Bradford were in danger of being taken apart. Before the first half was out Payne, Whalley and Nolan again saw shots flash wide.
The home side picked up the same script in the second half but on 55 minutes they were dealt a killer blow.
There seemed little danger when McMahon broke down a home attack and sent Alex Gilliead on his way down the right.
The Newcastle United loanee cut inside and his shot was travelling wide only for Nsiala’s outstretched leg to divert the ball past a stranded Dean Henderson.
They could have extended the lead only for Charlie Wyke’s effort to be disallowed.
Instead Sattelmaier made fingertip saves from Rodman and Payne as the Shrews pressed for parity, but an equaliser proved elusive.
Shrews boss Paul Hurst refused to be downbeat at the display from his side despite the loss.
“I’m disappointed with the result but not the performance,” he said. “We did more than enough to get a result. But I told the players, you have to take your chances against the best teams otherwise they punish you. Credit to Bradford, they did just that.”