By Adam Raj

It’s becoming quite the occurrence isn’t it? One goal, one clean sheet and another three points. Bradford City sit top of League One after seven games played and you can’t really say they’ve got out of first gear yet. And that’s not to criticise, but more a show of what could be if this side fulfil their full potential.

A nine point return from away fixtures at Sheffield Wednesday, Plymouth, Notts County and Luton Town is some going. Three of those four are significant spenders and much fancied to head the division come May. But Graham Alexander has consistently found a way to bridge the gap and have City competing against those sides at a high level. Sure, City won’t win any prizes for entertainment but it certainly is effective.

City had often been slow starters so far this campaign, but got off to a flying start in this afternoon’s encounter. Kayden Jackson, in for Adam Phillips as the only change to City’s XI, produced some great work to skip by his man on the right wing. He delivered a deep cross for Bobby Pointon to nod home at the back post beyond James Shea and send City into a fourth minute lead.

Pointon looked like a man possessed in the opening stages. In what has been a subdued start to the season for him, the goal looked to do him the world of good.

As the first half wore on, Luton began to assert themselves on the game. Kasey Palmer was the best player on the pitch when City came to Kenilworth Road in February and was so again in the first half today. In contrast to last season’s defeat, the Luton number 45 was playing a lot further forward and having a greater influence in dangerous positions as opposed to his deeper lying role last season.

And with the impressive Liam Walsh at the base of the midfield, Luton’s midfield began to dominate proceedings. Walsh was finding gaps in City’s press to kick-start attacks and Palmer was dropping in between City’s midfield and defensive lines to cause some hairy moments as he looked to create.

Aden Baldwin and Matt Pennington were superb in their last ditch defending, producing some excellent blocks and tackles to keep the hosts’ out.

But for all their neat approach play, Palmer’s curled effort that flew just past the far post was the closest Luton came to an equaliser. City didn’t carry much of an attacking threat themselves, with a long range Callum Connolly effort well saved by Shea the closest the Bantams came to doubling their lead.

Palmer in fact can count himself lucky to have made it to half time unscathed. He was ridiculously not booked for a late challenge on Connolly and then a similarly late challenge on Pennington also went without punishment.

Referee Ross Martin had obviously left his cards at home but made up for the half time Amazon delivery with a swathe of soft bookings for both sides.

City came out after the break much more assertive. They were much more aggressive in the press and Luton couldn’t find the spaces they were finding in the first half. They began to make forced errors and capitalised by breaking up the game, disrupting the flow and making the home crowd very tetchy.

The 66th minute introduction of Jordan Clark saw the away end mistake the midfielder for former Bantam Nahki Wells. Clark received dogs abuse (pun intended) as nobody seemed to realise Wells was still sat on the bench. Cue round two, ten minutes later when Wells finally got onto the pitch.

City managed to see out the contest with very little fuss. There was never really a concern that they would concede and Jon McCracken was without a significant save to make.

Harrison Ashby’s stoppage time sending off for a needless kick on Corey O’Keeffe capped off a bad day for the hosts.

Of the five League One clean sheets for the recently called up Jon McCracken, this was one of his quieter – largely down to the terrific back line in front of him. The aforementioned Baldwin and Pennington were excellent and George Pratt continues to impress.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite perfect. Baldwin and Josh Neufville were both forced off with injury (Neufville’s looking more serious), which certainly puts a slight dampener on the afternoon. Both players have had excellent seasons to date and are integral to the way City play. What should be commended is Jackson’s ability to move into the wing back role and make the transition seamless. That is testament to the work at Woodhouse Grove.

City’s defensive excellence sees them top the table going into the first international break of the season. Their ‘goals for’ column is a cause for concern, one which Alexander is acutely aware of, as history tells us City can’t continue to win 1-0 every week. But the solid defensive unit and structure gives City a platform to build off.

An improvement at the top end of the pitch to the levels we know the individual quality is capable of would make this City side an even more effective and feared proposition.

Categories: Match Reviews

Tags: 2026/27, BCAFC, League One, Luton Town