Written by Jason McKeown (images by John Dewhirst)

The agony of defeat was numbed by an overarching pride. Maybe this was a glass-ceiling moment in Bradford City’s automatic promotion adventure. Maybe it highlighted that there is another level they can’t quite reach just yet. But this was still a commendable effort. A heartening showcase of the spirit and resilience possessed by the Bantams – qualities that have served them so well over the past 18 months.

At the full-time whistle, the visiting Cardiff City players giddily raced over to the corner of Valley Parade housing their supporters to feverishly celebrate. This was, clearly, a big deal to them. A big result. A big moment in their season. And that said a lot about the considerable test they had just withstood from Bradford City, and the significance they attach to coming through it. The home players would have struggled to watch the outpouring of jubilation, but should take genuine comfort from seeing just how much this meant for their opponents. It spoke volumes.

Some City players had fallen to their knees at this point, but eventually recovered to embark on a walk around the pitch – where they were warmly applauded by their supporters. They deserved every clap that came their way. Around this time two years ago, we were wincing through a dismal 4-2 home defeat to Crawley, leaving City 14th in League Two. At the same moment, Cardiff sat ninth in the Championship, three points shy of the play offs. Now, here we both are, facing off in a 3rd vs 1st tussle. Losing hurts. But how far we have come to experience this kind of pain.

That perspective is important right now. It’s hard to dispute that Cardiff deserved the victory. They looked a side packed with quality and talent. And when they dialled it up, they produced football of a level City simply haven’t faced all season. It could easily have been a humbling afternoon for the Bantams. But it wasn’t. And that’s because they never gave up. Never shied away from the challenge. They gave it everything they had. And, really, that’s all you can ask.

Of course, the story of any defeat includes moments that don’t reflect brilliantly on the beaten. Fair to say it was a bad start to the game for the Bantams, who found themselves 2-0 down inside 24 minutes. Some Cardiff brilliance contributed to their early joy, but suspect home defending played too big of a part too. In a game where City could ill afford mistakes, they made too many in that opening half hour. Ultimately, it would prove telling.

That made it all the more frustrating because the game had begun fairly evenly, with both sides trading early jabs. City looked up for it, pressing high and sniffing out any sign of overplaying from Cardiff – something they had latched onto so effectively in September’s reverse fixture. But while Cardiff did attempt to play out from the back at times, they largely managed their risk by going more direct. Then they pressed the accelerator and threatened to blow City away.

Warning signs were evident before the breakthrough arrived. It came after Alex Robertson cut inside, leaving Josh Neufville trailing. He found David Turnbull, who exchanged passes with Ollie Tanner. City stood too far off Turnbull as he weighed up his options on the edge of the box. He shaped to shoot then turned, fooling nearby Bobby Pointon into committing himself. That gave Turnbull all the space he needed to unleash a magnificent long-range strike that flew past Sam Walker.

For perspective: two years ago, Scottish international Turnbull was turning out for Celtic, lifting league titles and playing Champions League football. When City were humbled by Crawley in January 2024, the Red Devils’ goalscorers had been recruited from Oxford City, Gateshead and Grimsby. In the immortal words of Fatboy Slim — we’ve come a long, long way together.

A goal to the good, Cardiff threatened to turn the screw. Robertson was played into space on the edge of the box but blazed over. Ryan Wintle was by some distance the best player on the park, setting the tempo and dictating play. Cardiff’s 4-2-3-1 shape again saw their midfield outnumber Max Power and Jenson Metcalfe. For a time, they could barely get a kick.

City had to somehow hold on. But couldn’t. In the 24th minute, Cardiff won a corner that Tanner and Perry Ng worked short, with no City player nearby to intervene. Pointon eventually rushed across, but in doing so vacated space that Ng was able to play Tanner into. Tanner’s low cross was devastatingly brilliant and former Arsenal centre half Calum Chambers flicked it in for 2-0. And what, I hear you ask, was Chambers doing this time two years ago? He was on the books at Champions League-bound Aston Villa.

2-0, with so much time left, you feared the worst. Cardiff were superb. They had that indefinable skill of somehow finding more time on the ball than City, and were so quick and methodical in switching from defence to attack. City had an early whiff of a chance when Will Swan was played through, but the outstanding Gabriel Osho mopped it up. Ng soon incurred home supporter wrath for some questionable antics, but he was a brick wall that Tyreik Wright simply got no change out of. The gulf between the two sides looked huge – at least at this point. It was the first time in City’s League One season that they were being outclassed.

And yet, from that deeply uncomfortable position, they delivered a performance to be proud of.

Perhaps it became too easy for Cardiff. They failed to fully press home their considerable advantage. Instead, they dropped down a couple of gears. For a time, the game drifted into nothing. 10 minutes went by without either side having a shot at goal, corner or even a semi-interesting attack. It allowed City breathing space to regather their composure and their confidence. Maybe this isn’t game over after all.

If there was a turning point, it came when Neufville danced past a couple of defenders and raced into the box, flashing over a low cross that no City player could quite get on the end of. But it lifted a home crowd that had been stunned into silence. Seconds later, Pointon produced a shot that flew just over – City’s first attempt on goal all game. Next, they won a corner, from which Curtis Tilt mustered an overhead kick attempt that narrowly cleared the crossbar.

There was suddenly hope. The volume rose. Home attacks became more frequent. Right at the end of the half, Antoni Sarcevic was clumsily tripped over in the box. Penalty surely! Referee David Rock – who had a dismal game – was unmoved. When he blew the half time whistle soon after, there was frustration that City’s sudden momentum had been halted.

But they carried it into the second half. Graham Alexander introduced Stephen Humphrys for the ineffective Swan and Louis Sibley for the anonymous Wright. Both made an impact. And Humphrys should have reduced the deficit when a brilliant Neufville dribble into the area saw a chance laid on a plate for him. But he flicked the ball over the bar instead of into the net.

Cardiff threatened to wake back up from their self-induced slumber and went close through Turnbull, Chris Willock and Osho, but it was City who got the next goal. Sibley embarked on a mazy run forward and won a corner, from which the ball was worked to Metcalfe to produce a long-range stunner remarkably similar to his recent Port Vale wonder goal.

Cue a tense final half hour. City pushed hard, with energy boosted by the debuts of Newcastle loanees Harrison Ashby and Joe White (though Neufville’s withdrawal felt harsh). The pair linked up nicely down the right, and Ashby twice went close with far-post volleys. The front three interchanged well – Humphrys popping up wide more than at any point this season. His movement was excellent. His decision-making less so.

City dominated possession and attacked from both flanks. Metcalfe, quiet until his goal, grew increasingly influential. Cardiff were pinned back and not always brilliant at keeping possession when they won the ball.

Still, while City knocked on the door, it was more a polite tap than a full-blooded battering. Clear-cut chances were scarce. The threat of an equaliser lingered, but hope outweighed probability. Cardiff defended superbly and remained dangerous on the counter. A special word for Tilt, who brilliantly handled the division’s best striker, Yousef Salech, while walking the tightrope of picking up an early booking.

In the end, City’s poor start left them with too much to do. But having got themselves into a hole and looking somewhat out of their depth for a moment, the way they regained their poise and purpose offers real encouragement. Cardiff look very much the best team in the league and end the day six points clear at the top, and nine points above the Bantams. But with Lincoln drawing at Luton, City’s hopes of finishing second haven’t suffered too much damage.

The Bantams should take real heart from the stern examination they gave the leaders. For the way they didn’t buckle when it initially felt so uncomfortable. Trips to Huddersfield and Lincoln up next – and if City play as well in them as they did here, they’re going to have a great opportunity of joining Cardiff in the Championship next season.

Categories: Match Reviews

Tags: 2025/26, BCAFC, Cardiff City, League One