Match Report: Bradford City 0 - Port Vale 1

A SECOND-HALF Dave Howland goal handed under-fire Vale boss Dean Glover a welcome boost as his side secured an unlikely win at Valley Parade this afternoon.

The Valiants were forced to soak up a lot of pressure and were indebted to keeper Joe Anyon on a couple of occasions.

However, Bradford failed to turn quality possession into telling chances, while Vale always looked dangerous on the break.

The game's defining moment arrived just after the break when Howland found space to score the decisive goal.

It was Vale's sixth away success of the season, equalling the number of league wins they have gained in Burslem.

Glover switched from a 4-4-2 formation to a more defensive 4-5-1, while he made two changes from the side that suffered a 2-0 defeat at Accrington in mid-week.

Strikers Louis Dodds and Danny Glover made way as the under-fire manager attempted to add steel to his midfield ranks.

Combative midfielder Anthony Griffith moved back into central midfield from right-back.

Griffith's full-back slot was filled by Sam Stockley, making his first start since the 4-2 defeat at Notts County nearly two months ago. Although on that occasion he was deployed at centre-half.

John McCombe injured his groin at Accrington but passed a fitness test to start at centre-back alongside Luke Prosser.

Striker Marc Richards returned after recovering from an Achilles injury and was unleashed as a lone striker.

Defender Lee Collins has been struggling with a hip complaint but was fit enough to be named as a substitute.

There was no place in the squad for midfielder Scott Brown, though, who has missed the previous two games against Darlington and Accrington with a sore neck, while he was also struck down by illness earlier this week.

Bradford handed a debut to Paul Mullin who was part of the Accrington side that swept Vale aside on Tuesday night.

The striker has joined the Bantams on loan until the end of the season.

Former Manchester United midfielder Keith Gillespie made his full debut for the hosts.

A passionate home support saw their side earn a free kick within the first minute, giving Gillespie the chance to show his dead-ball prowess.

Gillespie's dangerous in-swinging set-piece was guided wide at the far post by Mathew Clarke's header.

Valiants midfielder Rob Taylor embarked on a penetrating run on the left soon after, but was chopped down by centre-half Graeme Lee.

The challenge earned the Bantams skipper the game's first booking.

Bradford winger Steve Jones cut inside from the left before powering a 25-yard shot wide.

The Valiants threatened in the 14th minute when loan midfielder Paul Marshall had a 30-yard effort blocked.

Richards almost mopped up the rebound but the ball was hooked to safety.

McCombe looked lethargic in failing to make a basic clearance on 16 minutes, allowing Boulding to nip in and lay the ball off to Law.

However, the midfielder dragged his right-footer wide of the far left-hand post.

Despite his past glories, Gillespie was only posing a threat from free-kicks. Meanwhile Prosser was enjoying his duel with the physical Mullin.

On 21 minutes, Marshall fired off another long-range effort which Bantams keeper Rhys Evans scooped up.

McCombe produced a well-timed tackle to prevent Boulding from breaking free in the right channel seven minutes later.

From the resulting corner, Jones scuffed his angled shot beyond the post.

Anyon rescued his side with an instinctive save on 37 minutes. Bradford flicked the ball on twice after pumping a long set-piece into the Vale box.

With Bantam players lining up to convert the loose ball, Anyon scurried to his right to block Boulding's rushed effort from the edge of the six-yard box.

In the 39th minute, Marshall's dangerous right-flank free-kick flashed across Bradford's goal but ultimately lacked the killer touch.

Richards and Lee missed the target for their respective team as the half drew to a close.

Glover's men had earned their half-time refreshments after producing a battling first-half display, although Prosser, Griffith and central midfielder Howland ended up in the referee's book.

After the break, Mullin pulled an ambitious volley wide of the right-hand post from 25 yards.

However, Vale took an unexpected lead in the 49th minute when Bradford lost possession in Vale's half.

The ball eventually fell to the feet of Marshall, who drove forward with intent. The loanee rode one tackle and at the second attempt, after his first pass was blocked, slipped the ball to the onrushing Howland who lashed it into the near left-hand corner from 12 yards.

Anyon made another magnificent save in the 52nd minute, this time palming the ball away to deny Lee's powerful downward six-yard header.

Evans and Lee wasted further chances around the hour mark as Stuart McCall's men tried to regain the initiative.

Clarke fired into Anyon's arms from just inside the box on 61 minutes.

The home crowd were becoming increasingly frustrated as Bradford appeared to be running out of ideas, with Zesh Rehmen blazing over on 68 minutes.

Bradford's afternoon was summed up by Lee's 81st-minute speculator, which drifted harmlessly wide of the left-hand post.

With less than a minute to go, Marshall almost put the icing on the cake, but his low 25-yard drive flew inches wide.

Bradford City: Evans, Rehman, Lee, Clarke, O'Brien, Jones, Furman (Bullock, 77), Law Gillespie (Brandon, 68), Mullin, Boulding.

Not used: Arnison, McLaren, Colbeck.

Port Vale: Anyon, Stockley, McCombe, Prosser, Edwards, Gall (Dodds, 68), Marshall, Howland, Griffith, Taylor (Richman, 85), Richards.

Not used: Martin, Glover, Collins.

Referee: Steve Bratt (west Midlands).

Attendance: 12,436 (including 177 visitors)