Bradford hold Walsall

E-mail your reaction to Football Talk

A late own-goal from defender Gus Uhlenbeek completed a second-half fightback by Bradford.

After dominating the opening period, a brace from Steve Corica seemed to have sealed the Saddlers the points.

But late in the game the Bantams fought back.

Danny Cadamarteri gave the visitors a lifeline on 73 minutes and, just as it seemed that the home side had done enough, Uhlenbeek's howler salvaged Bradford a draw.

In a cagey opening period, Walsall started brightly without causing too many problems for the organised Bradford defence.

Corica gave Walsall the breakthrough with their first effort on goal on 13 minutes.

Fitzroy Simpson was the architect down the right and when he raced away and floated the ball invitingly into the area, the Australian midfielder arrived unmarked to head home.

Bradford were clearly rocked by that goal and, sensing the game was there for the taking, Walsall stepped up the pace.

After 21 minutes, Ulhenbeek's free-kick set the hosts away and when the Portuguese striker squared back across the box, Corica was on hand to thunder home the second.

Bradford were struggling to live with the pace and it was not until the 25th minute that they offered any sort of response when Eoin Jess' shot was comfortably saved by James Walker.

But it was Walsall who continued to pose the greater threat and five minutes before the break they were unlucky not to add a third when Matias' header forced goalkeeper Alan Combe to tip over the bar.

But the fightback began as, against the run of play, Cadermarteri fired home.

Having picked up the ball when Walsall failed to clear their lines, the former Everton striker finished emphatically, drilling home right footed to give the visitors some hope.

That seemed to spur the Bantams into life and Walker was called upon again to stop Claus Jorgensen's stinging volley.

But, just as it looked as though the hosts had held out, Ulhenbeek glanced Tom Kearney's free-kick agonisingly inside the right-hand post.

---

Walsall: Walker, Uhlenbeek, Roper, Carbon, Aranalde, Corica, O'Connor, Simpson, Matias, Leitao, Wrack. Subs: Harper, Bennett, Goodman, Herivelto, Holdsworth.

Bradford: Combe, Jorgensen, Wetherall, Bower, Jacobs, Juanjo, McCall, Kearney, Emanuel, Jess, Cadamarteri. Subs: Worsnop, Myers, Lee, Locke, Grant.

Referee: P Danson (Leicester)