Odd-looking Bradford City pay for Fleetwood Town first half

And while he insisted City’s passiveness in the first half was the main factor in their 1-0 defeat, which sees them drop out of the League Two play-off spots, it was hard not to conclude that there were too many square pegs in round holes for 45 minutes.

The Bantams were much improved after the break, but they lacked the clinical final touch on a dispiriting afternoon on the Lancashire coast.

It marked City’s fourth away defeat in the league this season already, as their form on their road threatens to derail any promotion bid.

City’s fans were taken aback when the teams were announced at around 2pm, with one fan speculating, tongue-in-cheek, that Alexander was trying out a pioneering 1-4-5 formation.

Neill Byrne was the only recognised centre half, Bobby Pointon was playing at left wing back, while Andy Cook was joined by both Calum Kavanagh and Vadaine Oliver from the start.

Richie Smallwood played in defensive midfield alongside Jamie Walker in the first half, but the skipper was on his own in that holding role after the break, with the Scot playing further forward. (Image: Thomas Gadd.)

And City looked all at sea early on, falling behind inside just eight minutes.

Fleetwood had already won two corners in a row and they got their reward at the third time of asking.

Danny Mayor fed Matty Virtue on the edge of the box, and the home skipper needed no second invitation to go over the dangling leg of Andy Cook for a penalty.

Fleetwood’s top scorer Ronan Coughlan stepped up to take the spot-kick, which he coolly slotted into the bottom right corner, sending Sam Walker the wrong way.

The Bantams looked shaken by conceding so early, and had to ride out a fierce storm to stop the Cod Army from quickly doubling their lead.

Lewis Richards had to clear twice from a dangerous free kick after Jamie Walker almost conceded a second penalty, then Ryan Graydon slithered a low long range effort inches wide.

Coughlan forced a great save from Sam Walker after getting in behind Brad Halliday, only to be flagged narrowly offside.

The same player then headed Carl Johnston’s cross inches over the bar at the near post, as he looked to be on a mission to score his brace.

Graham Alexander probably could not quite believe how badly his side were overrun early on. (Image: Thomas Gadd.)

But the first half quietened down thereafter.

City did start to get on top with a series of corner kicks, but struggled to seriously test Wales international David Harrington, aside from Cook heading Jamie Walker’s delivery straight at him.

Kavanagh did steer a Pointon pull back into the net, but the ball had clearly crossed the byline before the Low Moor man had reached it.

His fellow BD12 native, Jay Benn, was showing the odd flash of inspiration down the right, while Richards and Pointon were dovetailing nicely.

While Fleetwood were hardly rattled, they looked decidedly more edgy than they had earlier on, and Liam Shaw earned the first booking of the afternoon by needlessly flattening Jamie Walker in the centre of the park.

Sam Walker threw away possession after claiming a corner, and a lobbed ball returned with interest almost caught him out, but he and City survived to reach the break only a goal behind.

The Bantams began the second half with real intent and Harrington was extremely lucky when he was caught in possession by Cook within 60 seconds of the restart, only for referee Martin Woods to give a foul against the big striker.

Clarke Oduor had come on for the disappointing Vadaine Oliver at the break, going to wing back with City immediately shifting Pointon more centrally.

That meant Kavanagh moving up front alongside Cook, with Jamie Walker moving further forward.

Calum Kavanagh struggled at No.10 before the break, so spent the second half up front. (Image: Thomas Gadd.)

Oduor had a half-chance as he looked to make an instant impression, only to skew a half volley miles wide when a corner dropped to him.

A clever set-piece routine almost paid off moments later, but Jamie Walker was too careful with his placed effort from the edge of the box, allowing Harrington to make a comfortable diving save.

Mark Helm faded after driving Fleetwood’s excellent start, but the midfielder had the home side’s only real chance of note in the second half, when his strike on 55 minutes was deflected narrowly over Sam Walker’s crossbar.

Cook was arguably too honest when a high boot came towards his face in the area, when had he gone down, he may have been able to claim a soft penalty to rival the one he gave away.

Richards came close when he slashed a fierce effort narrowly off target after Jamie Walker’s cross was only half-cleared, before Alexander brought on Olly Sanderson for Kavanagh with 15 minutes to go with one last roll of the dice in an attempt to find an equaliser.

It almost worked instantly, only for the young Fulham striker to not connect properly with his header in the box from Benn’s searching ball in.

Former Bantams loanee Kian Harratt then came on for Fleetwood, having been on the receiving end of some less-than-friendly chants earlier in the game when he perhaps unwisely played the pantomime villain while warming up in front of the away end.

Jamie Walker whipped a fiercely struck free kick just wide after Halliday and skipper Richie Smallwood teed him up and City had their best chance of the afternoon moments later.

Richards, Oduor and Pointon were becoming an increasingly threatening trio down the left, and the latter two combined to unlock the Fleetwood defence with around 10 minutes.

But after being slipped in behind the full back by Oduor, Pointon could not quite place his shot out of the reach of Harrington, who saved it well low down.

Pointon was providing too and Jamie Walker should have done better than head his excellent cross straight down the keeper’s throat.

Bobby Pointon was excellent after the break and came close to fashioning a late equaliser. (Image: Thomas Gadd.)

The Bantams needed to avoid getting too frantic in their search for a leveller, typified by Benn’s yellow card as he desperately tried to make up for giving the ball away.

But that was a rare moment in the City half for Fleetwood after the break, as the visitors geared up for one final onslaught.

Jamie Walker and Sanderson almost hassled Harrington into a costly error, but that pressure did help win the ball back.

Eventually, Richards slid a lovely low ball across goal, with Cook turning it just wide at the near post.

Richards, probably City’s man of the match, also had a hand in their final chance of the game, as his long throw with a couple of minutes to go was only half-cleared.

Jamie Walker set himself and caught his volley reasonably well, but it drifted a couple of yards wide, and with it, drifted any hopes the Bantams had of claiming a point.