HAPPY HUGHES MAKES A POINT
MARK Hughes was pleased to take his first home point as Bradford City manager after their goalless draw against promotion candidates Newport County.
The stalemate ended a run of five consecutive home defeats, with the past three coming within Hughes’ tenure.
He said: “I thought we played really well against a good Newport side, who have got ambitions of their own, and we restricted them to few opportunities.
“I thought we were excellent in taking the game to them and asking questions of them, but we still need to work on our play at the top end of the pitch.
“We’ve done more work in defence and midfield than we have at the top end of the pitch, but it is good to see positive steps and the crowd were magnificent again.
“I think the crowd can see the progress we are making and I like to think they will see us continue in the same vein and get better every time we play here.”
The first half featured a constructive approach from both sides, but there was little cutting edge as both teams struggled to create clear-cut chances in front of goal.
Newport’s best effort came in the 35th minute when Robbie Willmott tried a half-volley from 25 yards, which goalkeeper Alex Bass saved at the second attempt.
Bradford created their best chance three minutes later when Andy Cook flicked the ball into the path of Jamie Walker, who found room for a shot before forcing Joe Day to make a diving save.
There was a lively start to the second half as both sides came close to scoring. Bass did well to turn away Cameron Norman’s shot, before the ball was straight up the other end and Day saved Callum Cooke’s effort.
Bradford spurned a great chance to break the deadlock in the 57th minute when Jamie Walker was played in on goal, but Day managed to save his fiercely struck shot.
Alex Gilliead went close with a header before Newport almost snatched a winner in stoppage time, with Matty
Foulds making a timely clearance from a corner and Dom Telford just failing to connect with a low cross.
Newport manager James Rowberry was happy with the performance, despite not taking all three points.
He said: “I thought we were terrific. We had a stonewall penalty turned down. I don’t understand why it’s not been given. Why would Cameron Norman go down in that situation?
“I was hoping for more reward from that performance.” Looking towards the final weeks of the campaign, the head coach is now expecting a tense conclusion to their promotion pursuit.
He added: “It’s going to be tight. It’s going down to the last game of the season against Rochdale.”
BRADFORD CITY: Bass 8, Hendrie 7, Songo’o 7, O’Connor 8, Foulds 7, Watt 7, Evans 6 (Pereira 61, 6), Gilliead 7, Cooke 6 (Vernam 60, 6), Walker 6 (Lavery 77, 6), Cook 7. Subs not used: O’Donnell, Kelleher, Sutton, Delfouneso.
NEWPORT COUNTY: Day 8, Norman 7, Clarke 7 (Haynes 73, 6), Demetriou 7, Lewis 7, Willmott 8, Bennett 7 (Dolan 82, 6), Azaz 7, Waite 7, Telford 6, Street 6 (Fisher 73, 6). Subs not used: Collins, Ellison, Townsend, Bright.