Bradford 4 Walsall 0 - Report and pictures

The Bantams, who started the day bottom of the League One table, were fortunate to go into half-time ahead with Paul Caddis opening the scoring.

Prior to the goal and shortly after, striker Andy Cook missed two glorious chances for the Saddlers with the striker unable to convert two excellent Luke Leahy crosses.

But in freezing conditions it was the hosts who took control after the interval with David Ball netting a brace and sub Eoin Doyle also on target.

ANALYSIS

In naming his starting line-up, boss Keates opted to make one change from the team that secured a place in the third round of the FA Cup by beating Sunderland on Tuesday.

Having been suspended for that match, top scorer Andy Cook returned to the side with Morgan Ferrier the man to make way.

It meant the Saddlers continued in a 4-4-2 formation with Josh Ginnelly on the left, Kieron Morris on the right and Josh Gordon partnering Cook up front.

Bradford, under the guidance of David Hopkin, lined up in a 4-3-2-1 system with George Miller the lone front man and David Ball and Jack Payne operating just behind.

The game kicked off in freezing conditions with the temperature below zero and rain lashing down.

But despite the wet surface making life difficult, both teams played some decent stuff in keenly contested opening 25 minutes.

It was the hosts who threatened first when sloppy play from the Saddlers allowed Payne to find Lewis O’Brien in the box.

The midfielder took a touch before hitting a fierce drive towards goal. But Liam Roberts got a strong arm to the ball to push it over the bar.

Walsall responded and should have opened the scoring in the 19th minute when Luke Leahy sent in a wonderfully inviting cross from the left.

Cook got on the end of it but the former Tranmere man headed straight at Richard O’Donnell when he needed to place his header either side of the keeper.

Keates’ men looked to be strengthening their grip on the game as the clock ticked past the half-hour mark with Morris twisting past his man in the box before seeing a strike beaten away by the keeper.

But in the 39th minute, against the run of play, it was Bradford who opened the scoring.

O’Brien sent in a low cross from the left which Walsall simply didn’t deal with the ball running right across the box.

And it was right-back Caddis who then latched onto it with the former Blues man drilling a strike past Roberts from 12-yards.

Visibly lifted by the goal, the hosts almost doubled their lead when Hope Akpan headed narrowly over from a corner.

But it was Walsall who had been the better side and they had a glorious chance to pull level just before the break.

Again Leahy sent in another pin-point cross. But just a yard out and unmarked, Cook powered a header against the top of the bar when he again should have scored.

With the wind in their favour, Bradford almost extended their lead shortly after the re-start.

Payne did well to trick his way past Martin before seeing an effort beaten away by Roberts.

The ball then fell for Akapn, but 18-yards out the midfielder curled a strike inches past the post.

Minutes later tough the Bantams were two goals to the good - with Ball hitting a speculative effort from just inside the box which took a number of deflections before sailing past Roberts.

Hopkins’ side had taken control of the game following half-time.

And they grabbed a third just past the hour mark. Initially,, it was too easy for O’Brien to send in a cross from the right.

And yet again Walsall didn’t deal with the delivery with Ball lashing into the net for his second.

Keates responded with Morgan Ferrier and Connor Ronan replacing Morris and Gordon.

The Saddlers almost pulled a goal back in the 80th minute when Ronan sent in a cross that was met by Cook.

But again the striker was denied with O’Donnell getting a hand to it to push the ball away.

Walsall had been poor in the second half and Bradford went on to pile on even more misery in the 83rd minute.

Kelvin Mellor hit the byline with substitute Eion Doyle sweeping the ball in from close range to consign the Saddlers to their heaviest defeat of the season.

Teams

Bradford: Bradford: O'Donnell, Chicksen, Knight-Percival, O'Connor, Caddis, Payne (Doyle 77), Miller, Mellor, Akpan (Henry 70), O'Brien, Ball.

Subs not used: Wilson, McGowan, Bruenker, Wood, Devine, Henry

Walsall: Roberts, Leahy, Guthrie, Martin, Devlin, Ginnelly (Wilson 75), Osbourne, Kinsella, Morris (Ronan 68), Gordon (Ferrier 68), Cook.

Subs not used: Dunn, Johnson, Wilson, Fitzwater, Edwards.