Nahki Wells grabbed the only goal as Bradford ground out a victory at Northampton to stay in the play-offs.

City bossed the first half but only went ahead after the break when Wells latched on to Danny East's poor header and slotted in.

Home goalkeeper Lee Nicholls parried Craig Forsyth's fierce drive, but James Hanson could only blast the rebound over when well placed to make it 2-0.

Louis Moult went close to an equaliser when his header was tipped over.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Northampton Town manager Aidy Boothroyd tells BBC Radio Northampton:

"We knew it was going to be a tough, physical game. We matched them and then we gave away a really poor goal.

"We're not talking about being bottom of the league. We've a few injuries and we're not getting the rub of the green.

"After Barnet, we were shell-shocked. But the over-riding emotion is disappointment.

"I know it's only the second game we've lost at home but we've got to make sure we take points out of games like this."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (2)

Northampton Town

  • 21 Nicholls
  • 03 Widdowson
  • 05 Langmead
  • 06 Charles
  • 12 Tozer
  • 23 East
  • 27 Roofe
  • 28 Huws
  • 09 Platt (Moult - 69' )
  • 10 Akinfenwa
  • 14 Nicholls

Substitutes

  • 01 Higgs
  • 07 Demontagnac
  • 22 Hornby
  • 25 Dias
  • 15 Mukendi
  • 16 Wilson
  • 19 Moult

Bradford City

  • 01 McLaughlin
  • 03 Meredith
  • 05 Davies
  • 06 Oliver Booked
  • 23 McArdle
  • 04 Ravenhill
  • 11 Thompson Booked
  • 15 Forsyth (Atkinson - 78' )
  • 24 Doyle
  • 09 Hanson
  • 21 Wells Booked

Substitutes

  • 12 Duke
  • 02 Darby
  • 16 McHugh
  • 08 Jones
  • 14 Atkinson
  • 17 Connell
  • 20 Hines
Ref: Scott
Att: 3,541

Match Stats

Shots

5 14

On target

2 11

Corners

3 8

Fouls

10 16

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:25 Full time

Full Time The referee blows for the end of the match.

89:38

Nahki Wells takes a shot. Save by Lee Nicholls.

88:38

Nahki Wells takes a shot. Jon McLaughlin makes a save.

86:42

Ben Tozer takes a shot. Blocked by Nathan Doyle.

85:29

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Anthony Charles by Nahki Wells. Joe Widdowson restarts play with the free kick.

84:58 Booking

Booking Garry Thompson is shown a yellow card.

84:39

Alex Nicholls challenges Rory McArdle unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jon McLaughlin takes the free kick.

83:31

Emyr Huws has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand post.

82:56

Nathan Doyle concedes a free kick for a foul on Danny East. Free kick taken by Lee Nicholls.

81:46

Will Atkinson takes a shot. Blocked by Lee Nicholls. Short corner worked by Nathan Doyle.

81:04

Anthony Charles fouled by Nahki Wells, the ref awards a free kick. Lee Nicholls takes the direct free kick.

78:29

James Hanson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Joe Widdowson. Lee Nicholls takes the direct free kick.

77:48 Substitution

Substitution Will Atkinson on for Craig Forsyth.

76:29

Short corner taken by Emyr Huws from the right by-line.

75:59

Louis Moult takes a shot. Save by Jon McLaughlin.

73:59

The ball is crossed by Nathan Doyle.

71:58

Joe Widdowson concedes a free kick for a foul on Garry Thompson. Free kick taken by Andrew Davies.

69:48

Shot from just outside the area by Alex Nicholls goes over the bar.

68:35 Substitution

Substitution Louis Moult comes on in place of Clive Platt.

68:35

Nahki Wells concedes a free kick for a foul on Lee Nicholls. Free kick taken by Lee Nicholls.

68:07

Corner taken by Nathan Doyle from the left by-line, Lee Nicholls makes a save.

66:54

Shot from 12 yards from Nahki Wells. Kelvin Langmead gets a block in.

66:21

Shot from deep inside the area by James Hanson clears the bar.

65:48

Craig Forsyth takes a shot. Save made by Lee Nicholls.

65:25

A cross is delivered by Craig Forsyth.

60:47

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Clive Platt by Luke Oliver. Free kick crossed by Joe Widdowson, save made by Jon McLaughlin.

60:36

The referee blows for offside. Lee Nicholls takes the free kick.

59:49

Foul by Ricky Ravenhill on Kelvin Langmead, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Lee Nicholls.

58:31

Free kick awarded for a foul by Garry Thompson on Kemar Roofe. Free kick taken by Kemar Roofe. Adebayo Akinfenwa challenges Andrew Davies unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Jon McLaughlin.

55:39

Unfair challenge on Adebayo Akinfenwa by Andrew Davies results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Ben Tozer. The offside flag is raised against James Hanson. Direct free kick taken by Lee Nicholls.

53:05

James Hanson provided the assist for the goal. Shot by Nahki Wells from 25 yards. Save by Lee Nicholls.

53:05 Booking

Booking The referee shows Nahki Wells a yellow card.

52:42 Goal scored

Goal - Nahki Wells - Northamp'n 0 - 1 Bradford Goal scored by Nahki Wells from just inside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Northampton 0-1 Bradford.

49:15

The ball is swung over by Craig Forsyth.

46:08

Ricky Ravenhill challenges Emyr Huws unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Joe Widdowson.

45:25

James Hanson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kelvin Langmead. Lee Nicholls takes the direct free kick.

45:01

The match restarts for the second half.

45:00 +1:34 Half time

Half Time It is the end of the first-half.

45:00 +1:00 Booking

Booking The referee cautions Luke Oliver for time wasting.

44:29

Alex Nicholls concedes a free kick for a foul on James Meredith. Free kick crossed right-footed by Nathan Doyle, Lee Nicholls makes a save.

44:01

Corner taken by Nathan Doyle from the right by-line, clearance made by Danny East.

42:26

The referee gives a free kick against Clive Platt for handball. Rory McArdle takes the free kick.

41:27

Nahki Wells concedes a free kick for a foul on Joe Widdowson. Joe Widdowson restarts play with the free kick.

40:09

Adebayo Akinfenwa concedes a free kick for a foul on Jon McLaughlin. Free kick taken by Jon McLaughlin.

38:50

The ball is sent over by Ben Tozer, save by Lee Nicholls.

37:55

Emyr Huws takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post.

14:04

Inswinging corner taken by Emyr Huws, Andrew Davies makes a clearance.

36:25

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Danny East by Craig Forsyth. Anthony Charles takes the direct free kick.

35:25

James Meredith sends in a cross, clearance made by Clive Platt.

33:48

Ricky Ravenhill concedes a free kick for a foul on Emyr Huws. Free kick taken by Anthony Charles.

33:29

Danny East produces a cross.

32:15

Clive Platt gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andrew Davies. Jon McLaughlin takes the free kick.

31:58

The referee penalises James Hanson for handball. Direct free kick taken by Lee Nicholls.

30:55

Adebayo Akinfenwa gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nathan Doyle. Direct free kick taken by Jon McLaughlin.

30:16

James Meredith has an effort from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.

29:30

The ball is swung over by Nathan Doyle.

28:01

Centre by Craig Forsyth, blocked by Danny East.

27:25

Clive Platt concedes a free kick for a foul on Andrew Davies. Direct free kick taken by Jon McLaughlin.

26:29

Effort on goal by Nahki Wells from long range goes harmlessly over the bar.

24:18

Corner taken by Craig Forsyth from the right by-line, clearance made by Kelvin Langmead.

21:54

Alex Nicholls produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the target.

20:22

Corner taken left-footed by Craig Forsyth from the right by-line, Andrew Davies takes a shot. Adebayo Akinfenwa gets a block in.

18:36

Foul by Adebayo Akinfenwa on Andrew Davies, free kick awarded. Andrew Davies takes the free kick.

18:19

Nahki Wells takes a shot. Lee Nicholls makes a save.

17:40

James Hanson takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Alex Nicholls gets a block in.

16:14

Corner taken left-footed by Nathan Doyle, James Hanson takes a shot. Blocked by Anthony Charles.

15:30

The ball is delivered by Garry Thompson, Anthony Charles makes a clearance.

14:04

Corner taken left-footed by Kemar Roofe from the right by-line, clearance made by Andrew Davies.

12:04

Corner taken by Nathan Doyle from the right by-line played to the near post, Anthony Charles makes a clearance.

11:23

Shot by Craig Forsyth. Kelvin Langmead gets a block in.

8:39

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kelvin Langmead by James Hanson. Lee Nicholls restarts play with the free kick.

8:05

Kemar Roofe gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Rory McArdle. Rory McArdle takes the direct free kick.

6:45

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Nathan Doyle, Kelvin Langmead manages to make a clearance.

1:26

Free kick awarded for a foul by Garry Thompson on Kemar Roofe. Free kick taken by Lee Nicholls.

0:45

Adebayo Akinfenwa is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Andrew Davies takes the free kick.

0:26

Rory McArdle sends in a cross, clearance made by Danny East.

0:00

The match gets underway.

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