A Harry Davis penalty proved to be decisive as Crewe defeated Bradford to aid their push for the play-offs.

Davis calmly slotted home from the spot after being gifted the opportunity when Bradford defender Andrew Davies handled in the area.

Deane Smalley headed wide and James Hanson volley over as the Bantams looked to respond.

But the visitors best chance came when Hanson nodded a free header wide of the post to hand Crewe the victory.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Bradford City boss Phil Parkinson told BBC Radio Leeds:

"It's not good. Three away games to come away with nothing and they've all got their own individual stories but the points tally is the one statistic that counts.

"I thought second half we were terrific, we took the game to them. In the first half we were a bit deep and gave Powell too much space in that hole which he likes to play.

"The performance was a very good one and I hate losing, hate losing at anything but when I wake up tomorrow morning I know i've seen a team which has had a real go."

Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (3)

Crewe

  • 01 Phillips
  • 02 Tootle (Brown - 44' )
  • 03 Davis
  • 05 Artell
  • 06 Dugdale
  • 12 Shelley
  • 04 Westwood
  • 08 Murphy
  • 10 Leitch-Smith
  • 11 Moore
  • 25 Powell

Substitutes

  • 13 Martin
  • 07 Bell
  • 33 Brown
  • 09 Miller
  • 19 Clayton

Bradford

  • 01 McLaughlin
  • 02 Ramsden
  • 03 Fry
  • 06 Oliver
  • 38 Davies
  • 14 Ravenhill
  • 22 Bullock (Syers - 71' )
  • 32 Reid
  • 09 Hanson
  • 11 Smalley (Wells - 71' )
  • 17 Dagnall

Substitutes

  • 15 Annerson
  • 24 Kozluk
  • 23 Syers
  • 30 Atkinson
  • 21 Wells
Ref: Whitestone
Att: 3,556

Match Stats

Shots

13 11

On target

9 4

Corners

7 5

Fouls

4 15

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:16 Full time

Full Time The match has reached full-time.

90:00 +2:05

Effort from inside the six-yard box by David Syers goes wide right of the target.

90:00 +0:48

Nahki Wells takes a shot. Save by Steve Phillips.

90:00 +0:25

Chris Dagnall takes a shot. Save by Steve Phillips.

88:36

Luke Oliver gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nick Powell. Luke Murphy takes the direct free kick.

88:06

The referee penalises James Hanson for handball. Free kick taken by Steve Phillips.

86:38

The referee blows for offside. Steve Phillips restarts play with the free kick.

85:36

The referee blows for offside against Nahki Wells. Steve Phillips takes the free kick.

84:53

Effort on goal by Nick Powell from outside the box goes harmlessly over the bar.

82:11

Nahki Wells challenges Danny Shelley unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Adam Dugdale.

81:08

Corner from the right by-line taken by Ashley Westwood, Ajay Leitch-Smith concedes a free kick for a foul on Simon Ramsden. Direct free kick taken by Jon McLaughlin.

80:10

Richard Ravenhill concedes a free kick for a foul on Nick Powell. Shot on goal comes in from Ashley Westwood from the free kick.

79:05

Corner taken right-footed by Ashley Westwood to the near post, Richard Ravenhill makes a clearance.

76:48

Nahki Wells challenges Ashley Westwood unfairly and gives away a free kick. Steve Phillips restarts play with the free kick.

73:19

Effort on goal by Danny Shelley from a long way out goes over the bar.

71:35

Richard Ravenhill challenges Ashley Westwood unfairly and gives away a free kick. Adam Dugdale restarts play with the free kick.

70:41 Substitution

Substitution (Bradford) makes a substitution, with Nahki Wells coming on for Deane Smalley.

70:41 Substitution

Substitution David Syers joins the action as a substitute, replacing Lee Bullock.

70:02

Corner from right by-line taken by Ashley Westwood.

68:15

Luke Murphy takes a shot. Save by Jon McLaughlin.

67:13

Ajay Leitch-Smith takes a shot. Jon McLaughlin makes a save.

65:01

The ball is delivered by Simon Ramsden, Foul by James Hanson on Steve Phillips, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Steve Phillips.

62:58

Nick Powell takes a shot. Blocked by Luke Oliver.

61:36

Shot from a long way out by Kyel Reid goes wide of the left-hand post.

58:20

Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Kyel Reid, Adam Dugdale manages to make a clearance.

56:55

Inswinging corner taken by Kyel Reid from the right by-line.

53:13

Andrew Davies fouled by Nick Powell, the ref awards a free kick. Jon McLaughlin restarts play with the free kick.

52:31

Header by James Hanson from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.

52:13

The ball is sent over by Jordan Brown, Luke Oliver manages to make a clearance.

50:07

James Hanson produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that goes over the bar.

48:44

Unfair challenge on Richard Ravenhill by Luke Murphy results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Simon Ramsden.

47:15

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Kyel Reid from the right by-line to the near post, Close range header by Deane Smalley misses to the right of the goal.

45:41

Lee Bullock takes a shot.

45:17

Inswinging corner taken by Kyel Reid.

45:01

The referee gets the second half underway.

45:00 +2:25 Half time

Half Time The referee calls an end to the first half.

45:00 +1:18

Luke Murphy takes a shot. Save by Jon McLaughlin.

45:00 +0:53

Danny Shelley takes a shot. Blocked by Luke Oliver.

45:00 +0:19

Matt Fry concedes a free kick for a foul on Byron Moore. Ashley Westwood takes the free kick.

44:50

Deane Smalley is caught offside. Free kick taken by Steve Phillips.

43:17 Substitution

Substitution (Crewe) makes a substitution, with Jordan Brown coming on for Matt Tootle.

40:50

Deane Smalley gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David Artell. Free kick taken by Adam Dugdale.

38:53

Ashley Westwood takes a outswinging corner.

38:34

Nick Powell takes a shot. Save by Jon McLaughlin.

37:40

Free kick awarded for a foul by Richard Ravenhill on Nick Powell. Free kick taken by Ashley Westwood.

36:58

Danny Shelley takes a shot. Save made by Jon McLaughlin.

36:12

Corner taken by Kyel Reid played to the near post, clearance by Nick Powell.

33:41

Andrew Davies concedes a free kick for a foul on Nick Powell. Danny Shelley shoots direct from the free kick.

33:18

James Hanson takes a shot. Save made by Steve Phillips.

31:30

Shot from outside the penalty box by Richard Ravenhill goes wide right of the goal.

30:26

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Luke Murphy by Lee Bullock. Direct free kick taken by Adam Dugdale.

29:28

Richard Ravenhill produces a right-footed shot from long range that goes harmlessly over the bar.

26:05

Byron Moore fouled by Lee Bullock, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Luke Murphy.

24:22

Byron Moore is caught offside. Indirect free kick taken by Jon McLaughlin.

23:43

The referee blows for offside against Danny Shelley. Indirect free kick taken by Jon McLaughlin.

22:44

Corner taken right-footed by Ashley Westwood from the right by-line, Andrew Davies makes a clearance.

22:31

Centre by Byron Moore, clearance made by Luke Oliver.

21:36

James Hanson challenges David Artell unfairly and gives away a free kick. Steve Phillips takes the direct free kick.

21:24 Goal scored

Goal - Harry Davis - Crewe 1 - 0 Bradford Placed penalty scored by Harry Davis. Crewe 1-0 Bradford.

19:20

Simon Ramsden challenges Danny Shelley unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ashley Westwood takes the free kick. Andrew Davies is adjudged to have handled the ball.

17:08

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Ashley Westwood from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Lee Bullock.

16:31

A cross is delivered by Simon Ramsden, save made by Steve Phillips.

13:47

James Hanson is adjudged to have handled the ball. David Artell takes the free kick.

13:05

Luke Murphy gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kyel Reid. Jon McLaughlin restarts play with the free kick.

10:40

Harry Davis fouled by Kyel Reid, the ref awards a free kick. Adam Dugdale takes the direct free kick.

9:47

Effort from just outside the area by Luke Murphy goes over the bar.

8:26

The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Jon McLaughlin.

5:16

Ajay Leitch-Smith takes a shot. Blocked by Luke Oliver.

3:01

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Ashley Westwood from the right by-line, clearance by Andrew Davies.

3:01

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Ashley Westwood, clearance made by Richard Ravenhill.

0:10

Richard Ravenhill is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Adam Dugdale takes the direct free kick.

0:00

The referee gets the match started.

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