Much-changed Bantams impress in Trophy win at Mansfield

GRAHAM Alexander promised there were opportunities for those who have found themselves on the Valley Parade fringes.

And the understudies certainly grabbed their chance with a ruthless victory and impressive performance at Mansfield.

The comfortable win takes City top of their Bristol Street Motors Trophy group with one game left to play.

More importantly, there were plenty of strong cases to be included in the league campaign – just what their manager wanted.

Alexander made eight changes to the starting line-up – just as he had done in the first group game. But this time with an enforced switch of formation to 4-4-2.

Richie Smallwood again stayed in – and is now the only ever-present in the City ranks. Cheick Diabate and Olly Sanderson were the other Saturday starters to remain.

Sanderson partnered Vadaine Oliver up front while Smallwood was joined by Alex Pattison in the centre of a midfield four that also included Bobby Pointon and Joe Adams.

The injuries to Neill Byrne and Ciaran Kelly necessitated a move away from the back three that has served Alexander throughout his reign.

Jay Benn made his full debut at right back with Lewis Richards on the other side of Diabate and Jack Shepherd.

Calum Kavanagh was fit again to return to the bench but there was no Tyler Smith, who scored heavily in the competition last year. That absence suggests he is currently well out of the picture.

Mansfield’s injury-hit selection meant play-anywhere striker Jordan Bowery lining up at centre half on his 200th club appearance and midfielder Aaron Lewis at right back.

City exploited that makeshift defence from the off to grab a third-minute lead.

Adams had already tested keeper Scott Flinders when the visitors forced a loose clearance from the Stags, the Wigan man linking up neatly with Alex Pattison before Oliver planted a precise header inside the near post.

It had been a long time coming for the striker – who last scored against Liverpool under-21s in the Trophy nine months earlier.

Mansfield looked to respond quickly but Shepherd and Smallwood made good blocks and Ben Quinn lashed one past the near post.

City had a great chance to double their advantage on 20 minutes.

Pattison and Adams were again in the thick of it, one winning back possession on halfway, the other feeding a ball through for Sanderson.

The Fulham striker was in on goal but denied by a strong save from veteran keeper Flinders.

City’s first moment of concern was self-inflicted as Keanu Baccus intercepted Colin Doyle’s clearance to feed Ben Waine.

The New Zealand international squared the cross before Doyle could get there and Diabate’s attempted clearance sliced close to his own goal.

Clarke Oduor gets a hug from Tyreik Wright after the third (Image: Thomas Gadd)

Lewis flashed a volley across the six-yard box before City took a firm grip on proceedings.

Sanderson nodded down Richards’ cross and Pointon, who had been fairly quiet up to that point, was on the spot to fire home from close range.

City sensed a third could be on the cards before half-time as Finn Flanagan’s mistake allowed them to break again. Oliver chose to take the shot early from 25 yards and Flinders finger-tipped his blast round the post.

City began the second half in the same vein with Smallwood’s glorious pass releasing Pointon whose cross was well cut out by Bowery. Then Richards almost got in from the byline.

Benn and Shepherd produced big blocks in their own box as Mansfield tried to lift things. Doyle remained well protected.

Pattison continued to make City tick and fed Oliver to trouble the Stags with a deep cross. The big man was blocked off by Deji Oshilaja from the corner – but the foul was given Mansfield’s way as Alexander covered his face in frustration.

The Stags got numbers forward just after the hour but it was a weak effort from Tom Nichols that rolled through to Doyle.

There was more venom from Adams at the other end but the shot flew straight at Flinders.

The Mansfield stopper was busy again as Richards picked out Oliver’s head. He nodded on to Adams whose goal-bound nod was fingered over the bar.

A few pantomime boos were heard as Andy Cook was summoned from the bench with 18 minutes left, Alexander switching his strike-forces round.

Kavanagh nearly had his first goal of the season after spotting Flinders off his line – an audacious curler from 30 yards being turned behind by the back-tracking keeper.

Nigel Clough brought on more experience but Mansfield still found no joy from City’s backline, Diabate standing his ground to stop Will Evans bursting clear.

Adams crunched into a 50/50 challenge in the closing minutes but felt it and hobbled off – one blot on an otherwise very good night for those in white.

But City were not done and saved the best until last with a third goal in added time from an excellent team move.

Pattison, inevitably, began with move before Kavanagh’s pass was left by Cook for Clarke Oduor to convert.