Bradford 4 Walsall 0 - Report and pictures
A James Hanson hat-trick saw Walsall fall to their heaviest league defeat of the season as they were thumped 4-0 by Bradford.
[gallery]
The striker netted three goals in the space of 15 second-half minutes, after Filipe Morais had earlier given the Bantams a deserved lead.
In a match Phil Parkinson's side dominated from the off, the Saddlers defended resolutely in the first-half to go in at the break all-square.
But the home side made their dominance tell after the interval, with Burton's 3-0 victory over Colchester making them favourites to win automatic promotion from League One.
In naming his starting line-up, boss Jon Whitney made three changes from the team that battled its way to a 1-1 draw against Swindon.
With Matt Pennington having been re-called by Everton, James O'Connor returned at centre-half with Liam Kinsella in at right-back for the injured Jason Demetriou.
Andy Taylor was also selected ahead of the Milan Lalkovic with Whitney opting to line-up his charges in a 4-4-1-1 formation that saw Rico Henry start on the left of midfield.
For Bradford, on-loan Wolves youngster Lee Evans started in central midfield.
The Bantams entered the game having won their last five games at Valley Parade. And they started on the front foot, with Walsall surviving an early scare inside the opening minutes.
Winger Kyel Reid galloped down the left-flank and delivered a low-cross, which Paul Downing looked to hack clear.
But the Walsall centre-back got his timings wrong and miss-cued his effort, with the ball – which could have gone anywhere – fortunately trickling its way through to goalkeeper Neil Etheridge.
Both teams had settled well but it was Parkinson's side who were the more threatening, with the Saddlers hugely indebted to Etheridge in the 12th minute.
Filipe Morais fine cross was met in the air by Evans, but the Philippines international somehow managed to keep the midfielder's header out with a wonderful stop from point-blank range.
Bradford were enjoying the lion's share of possession, but with Walsall looking organised at the back and defending patiently.
Whitney's men should have taken the lead midway through the half following a fine training ground move that saw Sam Mantom play in Jordy Hiwula, following good work from Sawyers.
[related_posts title="More on Walsall"]
The Walsall striker found himself 12-yards out on the left side and rifled a strike which cannoned off the under-side of the crossbar and too safety.
Bradford were happy to play a direct game with a lot of long balls being pumped forward to target-man Hanson.
But with Anthony Forde working tirelessly and O'Connor always alert, they were struggling to break though the resolute Saddlers back line as the clock ticked towards the 40 minute mark.
Moments later though and the Bantams should have been ahead. After Mantom had given the ball away in midfield, Evans drove at goal and saw a low strike parried away by Etheridge.
The ball though fell kindly for Morais who seemed destined to tap it into an empty net, but Downing slid into block the effort with a wonderful goal saving tackle.
It meant the Saddlers made it to the break having battled tirelessly to stay in the game with O'Connor, Downing, Forde and Etheridge all excellent.
The second-half began with Etheridge parrying away Tony McMahon's free-kick from 20-yards. From the resultant corner, Hanson headed over.
But in the 54th minute, Bradford did get themselves in front. A deep free-kick was delivered into the box with Reece Burke initially seeing an effort blocked as the Saddlers looked to scramble it clear.
The ball though fell kindly to Morais who just managed to squeeze in a header at the back post, despite the best efforts of O'Connor on the goal-line.
[comments_cta header="What do you think?" text="What effect does this result have on Walsall?" button="Log in and start commenting"]
Minutes later and it was two. A long ball forward found Hanson who managed to bundle his way past Downing before cutting inside O'Connor and coolly slotting past Etheridge.
Whitney responded by bringing on Tom Bradshaw for Henry, as the Saddlers switched to two up front.
It was Bradford though who had the wind in their sails and they came close again when Morais' cross was met with a towering header by Rory McArdle.
But, once again, Etheridge was in the right place the right time to push the midfielder's effort over the bar from point-blank range.
The home side were now well on top but Walsall showed they still carried a threat, when Hiwula hit a spectacular dipping strike from 30-yards which back-tracking goalkeeper Ben Williams just eased over.
Kieron Morris was then introduced at the expense of Mantom.
But, within minutes, Bradford had put the game to bed with Hanson grabbing a second as he headed home McMahon's free-kick, after Etheridge had failed to claim.
Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, seconds later Hanson grabbed his hat-trick with the striker again heading home after this time meeting Morais' left-wing cross.
With a little under 10 minutes remaining, Jordan Cook replaced Hiwula before Bradshaw saw a tame strike saved by Williams.
But the rest of the game passed by without incident with Bradford more than content to sit on their four goal lead.
