It hasn’t taken long for Devante Cole to endear himself to the Bradford City faithful with four goals in his opening eight games. He was even quicker off the mark at the Keepmoat Stadium with his opening goal coming on 50 seconds.
2,500 Bantams fans made the journey from West Yorkshire down into the South riding to watch the match and the opening salvo from Deadline Day signing Devante Cole would have no-doubt stirred the hearts and girded the loins of City fans disappointed from their Johnstone’s Paint Trophy exit at the hands of fellow South Yorkshire side Barnsley in a 2-1 reversal in midweek.
The first half, which ended 1-0 to Bradford City was one dominated by the Bantams. City had six shots in the opening 45 minutes, with three of their shots being on target against no on-target attempts from three shots by the home team as City made the best of slightly less possession (Doncaster 53%/Bradford 47%). The Bantams pressure led to them having the best chances of the opening half with first Kyel Reid (41′) then Lee Evans (45+1′) having shots at goal with Reid’s shot being saved in the bottom right corner and Evans’ shot being saved in the centre of the goal.
The second 45 started out more even with Doncaster coming into it more as you’d expect from a home team and an early chance fell for Richard Chaplow but his goal-bound effort was blocked by Reece Burke. The Bantams responded with some neat play of their own and a Tony McMahon free kick, after Devante Cole was fouled, was curled across Thorsten Stuckmann in the Doncaster goal before dropping agonisingly wide. Doncaster still continued to press for an equaliser and almost got one through Andy Williams whose hard shot towards City’s goal, after a James Coppinger cross, was neatly turned away from goal by Ben Williams. Doncaster’s frenetic search for a Keepmpat equaliser almost came off with substitute Nathan Tyson and defender Gary MacKenzie both going close.
It wasn’t to be and Devante Cole’s first minute strike was enough to seal the lid on all three points for the Bantams ahead of a tricky week and two fixtures against League One form teams Bury and Wigan Athletic.
Manager’s thoughts
Match highlights
