Match ends, Bradford City 2, Exeter City 0.
BradfordBradford City2ExeterExeter City0
Three players were sent off as Bradford City replaced opponents Exeter City in second place in League Two with victory at Valley Parade.
It was the visitors' third away defeat in a row as they lost skipper Jake Taylor and Tom Parkes to straight red cards, while Bradford's Callum Cooke was dismissed for a second yellow.
Bradford had the first chance when Harry Pritchard crossed from the left and skipper James Vaughan saw his close-range volley blocked.
Exeter had plenty of pressure but ex-Bradford midfielder Nicky Law scuffed their best chance wide when unmarked in the box.
Bradford took the lead against the run of play in the 31st minute as Aramide Oteh jumped for Zeli Ismail's right-wing cross, with the ball eventually adjudged to have gone in off Exeter's Pierce Sweeney.
The home side added a second in first-half stoppage time when Oteh chased a long pass down the middle and appeared to be fouled by Aaron Martin. As Bradford appealed for a penalty, the ball ran free to Vaughan to score from six yards.
Exeter dominated the start of the second half, with Taylor having a goal-bound shot blocked by Ben Richards-Everton in the 52nd minute before Sweeney hit the post a minute later.
Then came two dismissals in the space of three minutes. Taylor was shown the red card for a reckless tackle on Connor Wood and two minutes later Cooke was sent off for a second yellow card after a foul on Law.
Exeter were then reduced to nine men when Tom Parkes was sent off for bringing down substitute Dylan Connolly.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Bradford
Formation 4-3-3
- 1O'Donnell
- 22Henley
- 6O'Connor
- 5Richards-Everton
- 23Wood
- 21AkpanSubstituted forAndersonat 87'minutes
- 26CookeBooked at 62mins
- 7PritchardSubstituted forDevineat 73'minutes
- 11IsmailSubstituted forConnollyat 77'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 12Vaughan
- 25Oteh
Substitutes
- 2Mellor
- 4O'Connor
- 18Anderson
- 19Connolly
- 20Patrick
- 24Devine
- 30Sykes-Kenworthy
Exeter
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 23Maxted
- 2Sweeney
- 5Martin
- 15ParkesBooked at 82mins
- 11Williams
- 25TaylorBooked at 60mins
- 27Collins
- 3WoodmanSubstituted forRichardsonat 84'minutes
- 8Law
- 7MartinSubstituted forSeymourat 70'minutes
- 12Bowman
Substitutes
- 4Atangana
- 17Jay
- 18Fisher
- 20Richardson
- 21Moxey
- 35Seymour
- 40Visser
- Referee:
- Michael Salisbury
- Attendance:
- 14,002
Match Stats
Home TeamBradfordAway TeamExeter
- Possession
- Home34%
- Away66%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away1
- Corners
- Home3
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Bradford City 2, Exeter City 0.
Booking
Dylan Connolly (Bradford City) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Offside, Bradford City. Jermaine Anderson tries a through ball, but Dylan Connolly is caught offside.
Post update
Foul by Ryan Bowman (Exeter City).
Post update
Jermaine Anderson (Bradford City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ben Seymour (Exeter City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Randell Williams with a cross.
Post update
Ben Seymour (Exeter City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Anthony O'Connor (Bradford City).
Post update
Foul by Jayden Richardson (Exeter City).
Post update
Aramide Oteh (Bradford City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Bradford City. Jermaine Anderson replaces Hope Akpan.
Post update
Dylan Connolly (Bradford City) hits the right post with a right footed shot from outside the box. Assisted by James Vaughan.
Post update
Ben Seymour (Exeter City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Connor Wood (Bradford City).
Substitution
Substitution, Exeter City. Jayden Richardson replaces Craig Woodman.
Post update
Attempt saved. Connor Wood (Bradford City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Dismissal
Tom Parkes (Exeter City) is shown the red card.
Post update
Foul by Tom Parkes (Exeter City).
Post update
Dylan Connolly (Bradford City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
