Bradford 0 Shrewsbury Town 0 - Report and pictures

Ten-man Shrewsbury Town dropped two points in the promotion race as they were held to a goalless draw at Bradford, writes Lewis Cox at Valley Parade.

Paul Hurst’s side put in a committed display in an open, even encounter in West Yorkshire but were unable to crack the struggling Bantams and cut the gap further to Blackburn in second.

Shrewsbury remain third in League One, four points behind their automatic promotion rivals. The visitors' task of downing a resilient City was made tougher by the dismissal of Omar Beckles for a second yellow card on the hour mark.

Town survived Bradford’s charges towards the end of the breathless encounter but were made to rue efforts they had spurned inside the first hour.

Simon Grayson’s men held on for just a second clean sheet since November to frustrate Hurst’s visitors.

The hosts, under the stewardship of Grayson since club legend Stuart McCall was axed in February, went into the clash on a woeful run of one win in 14 games.

The disastrous run of form had seen them drop from a play-off position down to 14th. They had kept just one clean sheet since a scarcely-deserved 1-0 win at Montgomery Waters Meadow at the back end of November.

While Hurst’s men were looking to recover from Wembley heartache, the Bantams had to respond from a miserable 5-0 thumping at Blackpool, where travelling fans offered Grayson’s side a verbal volleying.

The Town boss made two changes from the Wembley Checkatrade Trophy disappointment as Alex Rodman recovered from a back injury to replace Nathan Thomas and Stefan Payne was included over Carlton Morris.

There was no place in Shrewsbury’s team for Luke Hendrie, who spent the first half of this season with his boyhood club Bradford.

Bradford have suffered postponements on home turf this season as their surface has struggled to cope with the harsh winter. It was looking worse for wear for Town’s visit. Hurst was wary of the hosts starting quickly in a bid to get the Valley Parade crowd on their side.

Timothee Dieng has glanced a header from a corner across goal for the hosts before Rodman’s fierce drive cutting in from the left was well parried by Colin Doyle.

The West Yorkshire faithful should have been encouraged by their side’s start as it took Dean Henderson’s brilliance to keep Shrews level. First he tipped over Alex Gilliead’s fierce drive before a stunning, flying save denied Stephen Warnock from distance.

Omar Beckles was booked for a tug back and Tony McMahon curled the free-kick inches over before Shaun Whalley hadf a drive blocked in a lively opening.

The home crowd rallied behind their energetic and committed side who edged the physical battle early on. Rodman and Whalley fired off target before Jon Nolan had Town’s chance of the half seven minutes before the break.

Whalley, not for the first time, made a defender look silly before picking out Nolan with a high ball into the box, Nolan’s first-time volley as the ball dropped almost squirmed between Doyle’s legs but somehow stayed out as a keenly contested, even first period remained goalless.

The second half took a while to warm up but burst into action as Town went within inches of a couple of fine openers.

First the impressive Rodman made a terrific 50 yard burst through the middle of the pitch to fire a spectacular effort inches over from 30 yards.

Moments later Doyle again denied Nolan after a lovely flowing move involving Whalley and Payne dummies.

Town had to be on their mettle as Nsiala cleared from the line to deny Gilliead.

Shrews’ battle was made an uphill one on the hour as Beckles picked up a second yellow that had been threatening for a while. He followed up a lose touch during a Town attack by catching a Bantams defender. Hurst opted for Carlton Morris for namesake Bryn as he went all out for the three points.

Bradford were boosted by the man advantage and lay siege to the Town goal. Hurst’s men defended admirably but were undone by an inch-perfect cross met by the towering Charlie Wyke, who could only plant a header inches above the upright.

The Bantams kept coming with crosses but could not break Shrewsbury down. James Bolton shot off target from a half-cleared corner moments before the death before Wyke’s shot was cleared by Nsiala after Henderson’s wayward punch.

An entertaining affair, but not the spoils that the visitors craved.