Bradford 3-2 Oxford Utd - 30-Dec-2017 : Match Report

30 December 2017 17:26
Bradford win five-goal thriller against Oxford

Bradford bounced back from two successive defeats with 3-2 home win over Oxford United.

Charlie Wyke gave the Bantams an excellent start with a goal in the second minute following a corner on the right by Paul Taylor. Goalkeeper Simon Eastwood saved but could not hold Shay McCartan's goal-bound header and Wyke hammered the loose ball into the net from 10 yards.

Bradford dominated the rest of the first half and only Eastwood prevented the home side from taking a handsome half-time lead as he saved goal-bound shots from Paul Taylor, Wyke, Tyrell Robinson and defender Matt Kilgallon.

Oxford's best first-half chance came just before the interval when former Bradford loan striker West Thomas found himself unmarked in the box but goalkeeper Rouven Sattelmaier came quickly off his line to block his shot.

The visitors equalised in the 50th minute, Canice Carroll scoring with a header from Ricardinho's corner but Bradford quickly got back on top with two goals in five minutes.

Northern Ireland international McCartan restored their lead with a superb 25-yard shot into the left corner after 55 minutes and Tim Dieng added a third four minutes later.

Good build-up ended with Robinson crossing for the midfielder to score with a close-range header.

Oxford pulled a goal back in the 75th minute when Jon Obika scored with a shot from six yards after James Henry picked him out with a cross from the left to set up a tense finish.

The shine was taken off Bradford's victory by the sending off of leading-scorer Wyke in stoppage time for a nasty foul on Carroll.

Source: PA