Bradford 1 – 1 Grimsby

Alex Gilliead struck an 89th-minute equaliser to earn Bradford a hard-fought 1-1 house draw towards Grimsby.

The guests deservedly took the lead with 43 minutes gone, following a Positive, entrance foot begin at Valley Parade, when Danny Rose headed in an inviting cross from Toby Mullarkey.

However, after the Bantams had been booed off at half time, Mark Hughes tweaked their setup, which ultimately got here good with one minute of the 90 remaining, as Gilliead fired throughout Jake Eastwood after a neat ball from Bobby Pointon.

Extending their unbeaten league run to 5 video games, Grimsby transfer as much as eighth in Sky Guess League Two, whereas Bradford transfer up one place to 14th.

How Bradford fought again after half-time boos

With out a win towards Bradford in 24 years, Grimsby began on the entrance foot on Saturday lunchtime – and efficiently pinned their hosts again for lengthy intervals because of this. Nonetheless, they typically struggled to create probabilities, save for Arthur Gnahoua’s early strike, which Harry Lewis dived to his left to maintain from crossing the road.

It was an identical story for the Bantams in that respect, too. The truth is, by the 40-minute mark, there had been extra playing cards produced by referee Sam Purkiss (4) than there had been photographs (two).

Shortly afterwards, nonetheless, the Mariners took the lead their positivity deserved. Mullarkey managed an extended ball on the right-hand aspect and delivered an inviting ball into the field, the place Rose leapt to satisfy it and discover the underside left nook.

The aforementioned boos on the break seemingly spurred Hughes into making modifications. He introduced on Gilliead and Rayhaan Tulloch, switched to a again 4 – and there was a right away response. From there, it was the true definition of a recreation of two halves.

Because the minutes ticked by, it appeared as if luck wouldn’t be on Bradford’s aspect. But they managed to stage the sport when Pointon – on his first begin for the membership – dropped the ball off to Gilliead, who shifted it onto his proper foot and fired throughout the face of aim and into the underside left nook.

Participant of the match – Alex Gilliead

The managers

Bradford’s Mark Hughes:

“Within the second half, we took the sport to them. We made just a few modifications. Pay attention, it wasn’t straightforward as we speak. We have had 4 house debuts after some disruption to our enjoying 11 and we’re having to maneuver issues round slightly bit.

“Within the first half we had a plan of making an attempt to get a great press on and we did not try this in any approach, form or type, so we needed to change it in a short time.

“Within the second half, we went to 4 on the again and that helped us a terrific deal. Then we compelled the difficulty and received the aim we deserved. All in all, the second half, perhaps, simply perhaps, makes up for the primary half.”

Grimsby’s Paul Hurst:

“We did not kill the sport off. They clearly had a change of system and a response after that first half after we had been so dominant. They had been the higher staff within the second half, in the primary, however I nonetheless felt, over the course of it, we carried a bit extra risk, even within the second half in comparison with the primary.

“Jake [Eastwood] has hardly had something to do, however a participant I do know effectively, Gilliead, scores a very good aim. There’s slightly disappointment there, however I am pleased with how they performed within the first half and, to a level, within the second, in what had been extraordinarily powerful circumstances for each units of gamers.”

What’s next?

Each groups are again in motion at 3pm on Saturday September 16. Bradford host Harrogate at Valley Parade, whereas Grimsby journey to North Wales to tackle Wrexham at STōK Cae Ras.