Quality of goals pleases Gary Bowyer after Bradford beat Oldham

Posted Sunday, August 18, 2019 by PA

Gary Bowyer is a happy man after celebrating the 100th win of his managerial career with Bradford’s 3-0 home victory over League Two bottom club Oldham.

It was relegated Bradford’s first win of the season back in League Two and extended their unbeaten start to three matches.

Goals from skipper James Vaughan, Clayton Donaldson and Sean Scannell gave Bradford only their fifth win in 2019.

Bowyer said: “I am delighted with the win, the clean sheet and the three goals. There are lots of areas to improve on which is a pleasing aspect as well.

“I thought we passed the ball better in our 0-0 draw at home to Cambridge in the opening match than we did today, but it is all about goals.”

Vaughan put Bradford in front in the fifth minute with a right foot shot from the edge of the six yard area following Connor Wood’s left-wing cross.

Donaldson lobbed the ball over the head of goalkeeper Gary Woods for Bradford’s second goal in the 32nd minute after controlling a lofted pass from Kelvin Mellor and Scannell put the result beyond doubt with the third goal in the 71st minute with a superb shot into the far corner after good work from Vaughan and Donaldson.

“We worked on the first goal with Connor Wood’s delivery and it was a wonderful start for us,” Bowyer said.

“The second goal was great movement from the front two to get Clayton Donaldson in and it was a wonderful finish.

“We needed the forwards to step up and it was fantastic they did that and obviously Sean Scannell as well. That will do them all a world of good.

“We are also delighted to start the season with two clean sheets out of three and we want to keep building on that. I thought we withstood the pressure well.”

Oldham, who have lost their first three matches, enjoyed lots of possession but the nearest they came to scoring was when skipper Mohamed Maouche hit a post after 21 minutes.

Latics manager Laurent Banide said: “We started badly and after 20 minutes it is difficult. We are very disappointed. It is complicated for everyone particularly if there is a lack of concentration. We had lots of corners, but we didn’t score.

“I am very angry, but it is too late now. We must make sure there is a reaction at the game on Tuesday. We must work to find a solution. We need to do better.”