Morecambe 0-1 Bradford City

Peter Jackson's Bantams produced a hard-working and thoroughly professional performance to defeat Morecambe and secure their second win in four days.

Building on their dramatic victory over Rotherham during the week, James Hanson's first half header proved enough to earn Jackson his second win out of three since his arrival at the start of the month.

Hanson grabbed the only goal of the game when he pounced from around six yards out to head home past Shrimps 'keeper Joe Anyon at the far post.

The positive result also helps to strengthen the interim manager's case for the full time managerial position at Valley Parade.

On their first visit to Morecambe's Globe Arena, City had to endure several periods of decent home pressure, but they worked their soils off to reduce the home side to very litte.

It was in fact the Bantams who created the best chances throughout the match.

Buoy by a superb away support of over 1,500 fans, the Bantams ensured Anyon was the busy of the two shot-stoppers during the afternoon. Jackson's side could even afford to miss a 95th minute penalty through Gareth Evans.

In the last moments of the match, Andrew Parrish brought down sub Kevin Ellison inside the area, but Anyon guessed right to save Evans' resulting spot-kick with the last action of the match.

With Lenny Pidgeley ruled out due to a thigh injury picked up against the Rotherham, Jon McLaughlin was called into action for the first time under Jackson.

The outfield ten from the Millers fixture remained though, meaning the returning Ellison was restricted to starting the match on the bench.

Barely twenty seconds were on the clock when City could have found themselves behind.

Kevan Hurst latched onto Danny Carlton's forward pass to beat the Bantams backline and find himself one on one with McLaughlin.

Luckily for City, the angle was tight, and despite rounding the Bantams shot-stopper, Hurst could only fire his shot wide of goal.

City responded with a chance of their own as Michael Flynn tested Anyon with a low skidding free-kick from around 25 yards.

Anyon could only push the effort back into the danger zone, but Shrimps skipper Stewart Drummond was on hand to clear for a Bantams corner.

From the resulting set-piece, Luke Oliver sent a teasing far post header right back across the six yard box, but both Hanson and Jake Speight just failed to scramble the ball home.

With Morecambe's presence slowly growing in the match, City were forced to breath a sigh of relief when Garry Hunter tumbled inside the area under the challenge of Evans.

Referee Mr Miller appeared to mull over the decision for a second, but thankfully, no spot-kick was awarded.

At this point, the Shrimps were starting to put the Bantams under some periods of pressure for the first time in the match.

Wayward shots from Carlton and James Spencer aside though, Morecambe failed to seriously trouble City's defence.

With Morecambe looking to push forward, Carlton then send two further efforts wide of target.

There wasn't much to choose between the two sides as the half time break edged into view, but Hanson changed the picture of the match with the vital breakthrough goal.

As Evans picked up Steve Williams forward pass and drove into the area, he seemed to overrun the ball as Chris McCready came across to challenge.

The Bantams attacker managed to rescue the situation though as he blocked McCready's attempted clearance, resulting in the ball looping over to the far post.

The ball fell nicely to the waiting Hanson, who proceeded to head past Anyon from around six yards out.

The goal was Hanson's eighth of the season to leave him as City's joint top scorer with David Syers.

Morecambe had a chance to equalise less than a minute later, but despite Hunter's commendale effort from Laurence Wilson's long, hanging cross to the far post, his volleyed effort could only find the side-netting.

City had a chance of their own at the other end when Evans picked up Hanson's lay off at the edge of the area, but he could only send a side-footed effort straight at Anyon.

As the half grew to a close, Morecambe came back at City again to try and force an equaliser before the interval.

The Bantams dug in though to make it to the half time break still in the lead.

Morecambe started the second period on the front foot, but City remained resolute in the defence and giving away very little.

McCready, and then Hunt and Dobie shortly afterwards, all needed treatment for head injuries at the start of the second period, but City were still giving the home fans nothing to feed off.

With Morecambe still labouring in their attempts to grab an equaliser, City suddenly burst into life with three good opportunities in quick succession.

Evans firstly tested Anyon with a drive from the edge of the area. The Bantams attacker then came back shortly afterwards with an even better volleyed effort, which forced Anyon into a diving save to tip the fierce effort over the bar.

City went even closer moments later when a loose ball bounced into Hanson's path inside the area. His left-foot volley from around eight yards appeared to be heading for the far corner, until it flicked off Speight and when a couple of inches wide.

Morecambe came back at the Bantams following that flurry of City chances, but a curling effort over from Hurst aside, once again Morecambe were struggling to test McLaughlin at all.

Shrimps boss brought on attackers Chris Shuker and Phil Jevons to try and strengthen Morecambe's efforts to get back into the match, but City were still keeping Morecambe at arms length,

With time running out, Drummond wasted a decent opening by heading straight McLaughlin from Shuker's cross.

Five minutes of injury time gave Morecambe one last chance to push for a late, late equaliser, but it was City who created the best chance during injury time.

As a late Morecambe attack broke down, Ellison picked up a loose ball and drove forward into City's area,

He knocked the ball past Parrish, but appearing to be bundled over by the right back inside the area.

Evans stepped up to take the penalty, but Anyon guessed the right way and push the effort away.

The late miss fortunately didn't matter a jot as the final time whistle followed shortly afterwards.

Yeah I've been quite busy lately so I never came on to announce our new manager appointment in Peter Jackson, He's won this game for us which I'm happy, but Peter Taylor had a good start too so I'm not judging anything just yet!

Great results and match reports, seems there's life in the Bantams yet. We're looking forward to playing you in the Championship soon .........get those promotions sorted asap.

If the wins keep on coming, The last four games for us while Jackson's been in charge have been 3 wins 1 loss, if we can keep up that form we MAY have a chance, I just hope this isn't another managerial honeymoon period like it was with PT..

Either way, we are on form, but it would take a miracle for us to reach the playoffs at this late stage in the season.. It's possible though.

BantamValley wrote:If the wins keep on coming, The last four games for us while Jackson's been in charge have been 3 wins 1 loss, if we can keep up that form we MAY have a chance, I just hope this isn't another managerial honeymoon period like it was with PT..

Either way, we are on form, but it would take a miracle for us to reach the playoffs at this late stage in the season.. It's possible though.

Whatever just stabilise, improve and with that support you will come back soon maybe not this season but...........you will be back.