No Matter how Gritty…

In a game which the papers called ‘Gritty’, Bradford City returned to winning ways whilst Grimsby now go 20 league games without a victory.

What made things worse was the fact that Bantams defender Matt Clarke was sent off after 11 minutes for a professional foul.

The Friday fixture kicked off with City looking to rebound from the televised loss to Darlington, which in my book was abysmal. City fans had soon forgotten about Monday when Jamaican international Omar Daley came inside and fired home a stunner to put Bradford 1 up.

Daley came off soon after in the first half due to big Clarke’s sending off. Who to replace him? Why it was another Clarke. Tom Clarke, making his debut for the Bantams after coming in on loan from neighbours Huddersfield during the week.

Grimsby must’ve fancied their chances once City were reduced to 10 men, but it was Mariners old boy, Michael Boulding that got the second with a fairly simple goal on 32 minutes.

Grimsby started the second half quite brightly. Until a Paul McClaren corner was met by the head of skipper Graeme Lee, who nodded home to see City cruising at 3-0.

Soon after the goal Joe Colbeck picked up the ball on the wing, last season’s player of the year did his usual thing, but was brought down by a strong tackle and had to be taken off on a stretcher; the damage appearing to be to his ankle.

Mariners fans were given something to cheer about, Liam Trotter scraping the ball across the line on 65 minutes after a corner. However it was the Bantams taking the 3 points on this occasion, and Stuart McCall’s side held on for the 3-1 victory.