Rochdale 0 - 2 Bradford City

Rochdale 0 - 2 Bradford City

Jason Kennedy scored against his former club to help earn Bradford City the three points against Rochdale. Kennedy swept home after Hanson’s knock down before Hanson headed home from a corner five minutes later to seal the win.

Dale named an unchanged side from last weekend’s draw against Bristol City; new signing Shamir Fenelon was named on the bench.

Dale started very brightly and almost went in front after five minutes but Matt Done’s shot deflected into the side netting.

Done had the ball in the net on 20 minutes, a linesman’s flag cutting short any celebrations.

Bradford, cheered on by almost 2,000 travelling fans, went close with Hanson glancing a header just wide.

Jason Kennedy warmed the hands of Conrad Logan with a difficult volley.

Dale struggled to get into the game after the break; a Rhys Bennett header from 18 yards the closest they came to breaching Jordan Pickford’s goal.

The game was won in five second half minutes. A long ball from the back was headed down by Hanson with Kennedy on hand to sweep home; the former Dale favourite keeping his celebrations down out of respect for his former employers.

Minutes later and the game was over as a contest when Bradford doubled their advantage. A right wing corner by Alan Sheehan was powered home by the head of Hanson giving Logan no chance.

It was a game that could have gone either way after the first half but the first goal was always going to be crucial and Bradford, once they got it, never really looked in any danger of losing.

Attendance: 4,758

Rochdale: C Logan, Rafferty (Donnelly 67), Eastham, Tanser, Kennedy, Bennett, Allen, Hery, Vincenti (Andrew 72), Henderson (c), Done (Fenelon 67)
Subs: (not used) Diba, Rose, Dawson, Camps

Bradford City: Pickford, darby (c), Meredith, McArdle, Sheehan, Liddle, Kennedy, Knott (Dolan 81), Morais (Clarke 46), Hanson, Bennett (McLean 75)
Subs: (not used) Williams, Yeates, Routis, McBurnie

Referee: Mr N Miller
Assistant Referees: Mr G Mellor & Mr S Meredith
Fourth Official: Mr M Parry