Bradford City back to winning ways after beating Newport

IT WILL be alright on the night is a favourite TV saying – and City got their act together in front of the cameras at Valley Parade.

Second-half goals from Jamie Walker and Bobby Pointon sealed a first win in five league games after Andy Cook’s earlier header had been cancelled out.

Fittingly, it was a goal made in Bradford that sealed it – as Low Moor duo Pointon and Jay Benn combined to finally put a persistent Newport away.

Graham Alexander was able to welcome back Neill Byrne from the injury he suffered in the Walsall defeat - although his late departure was a worrying sight.

Byrne's return meant City could revert to their preferred back-three set-up with Byrne playing down the middle in between Cheick Diabate and Jack Shepherd.

Byrne replaced Lewis Richards, who dropped to the bench, as Tyreik Wright was employed at left wing-back. New arrival Corry Evans was named among the subs but there was no Paul Huntington.

Olly Sanderson was dropped from the squad as Tyler Smith again providing the attacking back-up with Vadaine Oliver.

Newport were a whopping 11/2 with the bookies – a generous price considering they came into the game on the back of consecutive wins.

City’s recent form, meanwhile, was causing some anxiety and they had to make sure that late lifeline from Jack Shepherd’s equaliser at Morecambe was not wasted.

Not for them the target of a “comfortable season” as the Exiles’ Portuguese boss Nelson Jardim had set out when he took the hot-seat in south Wales during the summer.

City looked to utilise Wright early on and one dangerous ball almost reached Cook lurking in front of goal. Richie Smallwood let fly from 25 yards but it was always rising over the bar.

But there was a scare in the 10th minute as Clarke Oduor was turned by Bobby Kamwa in the City box. The loose ball broke to Kyle Hudlin but Shepherd was in the right place to thwart the giant striker.

Calum Kavanagh, still looking to get off the mark this season, had a shot on the turn blocked.

Fireworks burst above the Midland Road stand as the crowd waited for City to explode into action. Jay Benn found Cook with a precise cross but his downward header flew straight at keeper Nick Townsend.

The Newport number one went in Ben Toner’s book for time-wasting after taking 25 seconds over a goal kick. Unusual to see a yellow for that in the first half – maybe Sky’s presence prompted the official.

Anthony Glennon slid to deny Oduor’s shot at source after another decent delivery from Benn, who was once again a willing runner down City’s right.

Oduor was frustrated again from another Wright cross before Newport missed a big chance just after the half hour.

Aaron Wildig got behind Shepherd to meet Kamwa’s deep cross at the far post but scuffed his shot across goal.

It was an escape for City but they continued to knock on the door themselves and Walker tested Towsend with a low effort he turned round the post.

And City struck after 39 minutes – with a classic centre-forward’s header from Cook.

Andy Cook and Jay Benn enjoy the striker's opener (Image: Thomas Gadd)

Walker fed Benn once again but Cook still had plenty to do from the cross, generating great power on the ball to angle his header into the far corner beyond Townsend.

But City’s job was far from done as Newport began the second half well, Hudlin thundering a shot just wide from 20 yards after Kamwa had seized on a loose ball.

The Exiles went even closer with a flick header from Kieran Evans that flashed past the far post with Walker beaten.

You could sense the unease growing around the ground and Cameron Evans caused more concern touching wide from Noah Mawene’s cross.

City hadn’t got going since the break with Wright unable to get into the game as he had been earlier.

A Newport goal was coming – and arrived on 65 minutes. Kieran Evans whipped in a right-wing cross and Hudlin got in front of his marker Diabate to thump home the header.

Alexander reacted by bringing on Bobby Pointon and Smith – who had a chance straight away but fired well off target.

Pointon then got in on the act to play his part as City regained the lead on 75 minutes.

He linked up with Wright before cutting the ball back to the centre of the box where Walker rushed in to beat Townsend with the aid of a deflection.

There was a late blow when Byrne was forced off but Valley Parade then erupted when Benn claimed a second assist with a cross that was deliciously finished by Pointon – adding a goal to his own assist.