Walsall ease past Bradford

Bradford's Ashley Ward could not get past Ian Roper

Walsall 2-0 Bradford City

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Two goals early in the second half gave Walsall victory over Bradford in the FA Cup and set up a fourth round trip to Charlton Athletic.

It was a disappointing start for new Bradford boss Nicky Law who saw the side lose their seventh game in eight matches.

  Match details

47 mins: Bennett puts Walsall ahead with a chip

56 mins: Angell dives to head in the second

A number of the visiting fans chanted "what a load of rubbish" at the final whistle.

The first half ended goalless after both sides had missed good opportunities, but it was the Saddlers who proved more clinical after the break.

Tom Bennett opened the scoring in the 47th minute with a chip into the top-left corner from just inside the box.

And nine minutes later Brett Angell put Walsall further ahead when he dived to head home a Darren Wrack cross.

Bradford keeper Carl Muggleton had to be on his best form to deny Walsall in the first half at the Bescot Stadium.

We were all over the place and there is an awful lot of work to do

Bantams boss Nicky Law

Darren Byfield mishit a shot from six yards in the eighth minute with only Muggleton to beat and Carlos Andre went close soon after.

Lee Sharpe was the behind most of Bradford's best work, with a low drive early on before setting up Robbie Blake for a good chance.

Bradford pressed late on in the second half but could only manage two efforts from Gary Locke and a shot on the turn from Ashley Ward.

Walsall keeper James Walker rarely looked troubled and the home side always looked dangerous on the break.

Afterwards, delighted Walsall boss Ray Graydon looked ahead to the trip to the Valley.

"Charlton will be thinking they are through, but you only have to look at what happened at Cardiff and Derby this week to know the pitfalls in the Cup."

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Walsall: Walker, Brightwell, Aranalde, Tillson, Roper, Biancalani, Wrack, Andre, Bennett, Byfield, Angell.
Subs: Harper, Leitao, Keates, Barras, Matias.

Bradford: Muggleton, McCall, Jacobs, Tod, Molenaar, Sharpe, Locke, Juanjo, Jess, Ward, Blake.
Subs: Worsnop, Emanuel, Jorgensen, Bower, Grant.