Bradford City vs Walsall. Sky Bet League One.
University of Bradford StadiumAttendance18,976.
Tuesday 1 May 2018 22:08, UK
Walsall gained the point they needed to secure their Sky Bet League One status with a 1-1 draw at Bradford.
The match was preceded by a minute's silence in memory of the 56 people who died in the Valley Parade fire in May 1985 and both captains laid wreaths.
Walsall took the lead in the 22nd minute with a smart, opportunist goal. George Dobson won the ball in the Bradford penalty area and tried a left-foot shot. The ball appeared to be going wide of the far post, but Amadou Bakayoko dived forward to head it into the net.
Bradford equalised on the stroke of half-time following a move involving the two players on-loan from Burton. Former England international Stephen Warnock, who is retiring at the end of the season, crossed from the left for the unmarked Matty Lund to score with a close-range header.
Bradford came closest to grabbing a winner in an improved second-half performance. Winger Jordan Gibson fired just wide of the far post in the 56th minute after receiving a through pass from Shay McCartan just two minutes after coming on as substitute.
Tim Dieng and Callum Guy had shots blocked and Charlie Wyke saw a header saved, but the nearest they came to scoring was in the 62nd minute when goalkeeper Liam Roberts made a stunning save to keep out a superb 20-yard shot from McCartan. The ball came out to Tony McMahon but he fired over the crossbar.
