Huddersfield Town 2 v 1 Bradford City (Capital One Cup)
Bradford City, last season’s Capital One Cup runners-up fell at the first hurdle this season with a first round exit to Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield Town.
Phil Parkinson made seven changes from the side that drew at Bristol City in the opening Skybet League One fixture last weekend. New signing Matt Taylor made his debut for the club, starting the game at centre back along side Nathan Doyle.
Bradford City matched their Championship opponents in every department, roared on by 4,000 away supporters, the game turned out to be a fairly even contest.
It was Huddersfield that had the first few attempts on goal, on seven minutes James Vaughan tried an ambitious bicycle kick from inside the City penalty area, but his volley sailed well wide of Jon McLaughlin’s goal.
On fifteen minutes, Martin Paterson spun away from Nathan Doyle but his curling shot on the turn went straight to Jon McLaughlin in the Bradford goal.
On twenty minutes, after being played into space down the right flank by Alan Connell, Garry Thompson surged into the Huddersfield box before shooting wide across the six yard box.
An Oliver Norwood corner on the half hour mark caused a moment of concern in the Bradford area. James Vaughan tried to head the initial set-piece at goal, but his effort was blocked.
Adam Clayton then tried his luck from the edge of the area, but his shot was also cut out, this time by the diving frame of Alan Connell. Jack Hunt looked to make it third time lucky, but his drive from outside the area sailed well wide of the target.
On thirty-five minutes, Alan Connell’s teasing low cross into the six yard box was cut out by the unlikely figure of James Vaughan in the penalty area, with Gary Thompson waiting to pounce behind him.
Huddersfield Town finished the half on top, when Stephen Darby cleared an Adam Clayton shot off the line on forty-one minutes. Two minutes later Huddersfield took the lead, when James Vaughan’s twenty yard drive flew past Jon McLaughlin.
Huddersfield Town started the second half as they ended the first, when James Vaughan out jumped Matt Taylor to head home a Andy Hammill cross on fifty-four minutes.
On fifty-six minutes, Martin Paterson looked to have a clear sight on Jon McLaughlin’s goal following a James Vaughan headed flick on over Bradford’s Stephen Darby. The City right back recovered his ground just enough to prevent the former Burnley striker from getting in a clean strike on goal.
Kyel Reid then went close on the hour, when his freekick from just outside the penalty area went wide of the Huddersfield goal. Bradford then made three changes on sixty-five minutes, bringing on Meredith, Hanson and Wells for De Vita, Taylor and Connell.
Bradford City finished the game on top, when on eighty-seven minutes James Hanson headed wide of the Huddersfield goal from eight yards following a Kyel Reid cross.
Nahki Wells reduced the deficit on ninety minutes with a twenty yard strike which left the Huddersfield goalkeeper Alex Smithies stranded. Bradford continued to pressure the Huddersfield goal in the final three minutes of stoppage time, but they could not manage an equaliser.
Match Details
Huddersfield Town – Smithies, Lynch, Clayton, Gerrard, Clarke, Norwood, Hunt, Paterson, Hogg, Carroll (Subs) Bennett, Scannell, Wallace, Lopez, Hammill, Stead, Ward
Bradford City – McLaughlin, Darby, Doyle, Taylor, McHugh, Ravenhill, Kennedy, De Vita, Reid, Connell, Thompson (Subs) Ripley, Meredith, Davies, Hanson, Yeates, Jones, Wells
Goals – (Huddersfield) Vaughan (42,54) (Bradford City) Wells (90)
Attendance – 11,630
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