Fleetwood 0 Bradford City 2

AN AFTERNOON of bracing sea air is the best Boxing Day cure for any Christmas excess and it certainly invigorated the Bantams yesterday.

The happy travellers made it six wins on the road in League One this season – and moved into the play-offs in the process.

There was added joy on the West Lancashire coast for James Hanson, who scored his first goal since the end of August to get the ball rolling.

Then Filipe Morais made sure to warm up a freezing afternoon and kill off any Fleetwood hopes of a comeback. The home side, for all their huff and puff, failed to muster one shot on target.

With Billy Clarke sidelined for up to four weeks, Hanson was back in the starting line-up for the first time since November 1. His last six appearances had all been off the bench – the longest only 20 minutes against Gillingham.

It was a blow to lose Clarke with a knee injury after the way is partnership with Jon Stead had blossomed. But for Hanson, there was plenty to prove following the frustration of the last few months.

Despite having two big men up front, City switched back to a midfield diamond to match the way that Fleetwood play. Mark Yeates played behind the front two, with Gary Liddle in the holding role.

Morais, despite being more tucked in, immediately found some width to ping in a useful cross that Stead nodded over the bar.

The on-loan striker then latched on to a through ball from Andrew Davies but his low shot was comfortably saved.

The atmosphere was lacking considering it was a Boxing Day game but the away end – limited to 1,300 because of the small size of their stand – were watching their side edge the early stages.

Yeates fired over from 25 yards as Phil Parkinson shouted at his team to keep Fleetwood penned in their own half.

But when the hosts did get out after 14 minutes, they were only a whisker away from opening the scoring. Stephen Dobbie squared to left back Danny Andrew, whose fierce drive flew inches over the join of the bar and post.

That lifted the hosts and Jamie Proctor looked to send Dobbie clear but his strike partner snatched at the chance, trying to take it early, and the ball bobbled wide.

Fleetwood’s threat continued to build. Dobbie’s next effort just beat the far post with two red shirts looking on when the slightest of touches would have turned it home.

Dobbie was playing his first game in a month and his rustiness in front of goal was clear as he dragged another promising opportunity off target after a loose pass from Yeates fell nicely into his path.

A thundering tackle from Stephen Darby set up City to win the game’s first corner but Davies could not get enough on his header from the set-piece.

Play switched straight to the other end, where Josh Morris got goal-side of Filipe Morais. But his dangerous run was let down by another wild finish – Fleetwood had still failed to find a single shot on target for all their trying.

Dobbie caused more concern when he turned Davies inside the box but his cross-shot was blocked by Rory McArdle, having another typically solid afternoon.

Fleetwood left back Danny Andrew was struggling from the after-effects of that Darby challenge and had to limp off six minutes before the break. It was a break for City because he had looked useful on that side.

Ex-Leeds defender Stephen Crainey took his place – and was quickly left trailing by Yeates as City made Fleetwood pay for their wayward finishing.

The Irishman hung a cross to the far post, where Hanson was on hand to rise and nod the type of goal that he relishes.

It was against the run of play but the travelling fans weren’t complaining – and their spirits remained high when Gareth Evans wasted Fleetwood’s first corner by clearing the goalmouth. Memories were clearly still fresh of his goal celebrations for Rotherham that time.

Fleetwood’s shooting radar had not improved over the interval as first Evans and then Proctor fired wide. Morais responded with a marauding run into the box which enticed keeper Chris Maxwell into no man’s land but Hanson’s header was hacked away.

City were playing with growing confidence, particularly Hanson, who was coming more and more into the contest. Strike partner Stead glanced across goal from a Yeates cross as they continued to look for the insurance of a second.

Pickford had still not had a shot to save – but he got a massive let-off in the 63rd minute. Proctor’s vicious angled drive flew past the City stopper but crashed back into play off the post.

That was a reminder to the visitors about their slender advantage and they hit back straight away as Darby’s deep cross was nodded back by Hanson for Stead. His shot on the turn had plenty of venom but Maxwell was equal to it to beat away.

The temperature rose when Conor McLaughlin caught James Meredith late with a touchline tackle. It happened right in front of the dug-outs and Parkinson flew across to remonstrate angrily with the Fleetwood right back.

McLaughlin was booked but referee Chris Sarginson did not call the City boss across for any words – and the home crowd were far from impressed.

Maxwell pulled off a superb save to deny Hanson a second as Knott’s free-kick was headed back into the danger zone by Davies.

Referee Sarginson bizarrely gave a goal kick but City were not to be denied a minute later. With white shirts pouring forward, Stead’s low cross was left by sub Billy Knott to give Morais a straight-forward tap-in.

It was the Portuguese midfielder’s third City goal – and a timely one for his bargaining position given the on-going contract negotiations.

His future may be unclear but there is nothing uncertain about the record away from Valley Parade. It sets it up superbly for Gary Jones’s homecoming tomorrow.

Fleetwood v City picture gallery