BOWYER’S FUMING AS PALMER CLEANS UP
BRADFORD City manager Gary Bowyer is demanding a reaction after two first-half goals from Ollie Palmer condemned the Bantams to a first defeat in nine.
Not even the inclusion of potent Eoin Doyle could inspire City after they opted to recall him from his season-long loan at Swindon, where he banged in 23 goals in 22 league games.
Substitute Aramide Oteh pulled a late goal back for the Bantams, but they never threatened to complete a comeback, and Bowyer said: “It wasn’t good enough I’m afraid. We got into some good areas second half, but the standard of our crosses needs to improve. Our failure to create decent crosses was frustrating.”
Bowyer is determined to make 31-year-old Doyle feel wanted again after his recent comments that he would be “disappointed” to leave Swindon. He added: “After all the drama (concerning Doyle’s recall) it is about getting back into the game of football. We are still in the top seven, have only one defeat in nine and we’ve worked hard to get into this position.”
Palmer went close early on by heading against the crossbar following a corner from Josh Dacres-Cogley.
Palmer struck to give the Reds the lead in the 21st minute getting in between defenders Ben Richards-Everton and Dylan Connolly to fire his seventh of the season from 12 yards.
Crawley top-scorer Bez Lubala had a low shot saved by goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell, before Palmer doubled their lead from close in after being set up by strike partner Ashley Nadesan five minutes before the break.
Goalkeeper O’Donnell prevented Palmer from completing his hat-trick shortly after the interval, by tipping his fierce shot from the edge of the area over the crossbar.
Dangerman Palmer later shot across the face of goal as City continued to live dangerously.
Substitute Oteh gave City late hope by bundling in his fifth goal of the season six minutes from time.
Bradford pressed for an equaliser in stoppage time, but Crawley held on for only their second win in the past 14 league games.
Crawley head coach John Yems admitted his side’s second win in his eight games in charge had come as a much-needed boost.
The 60-year-old has got the job until the end of the season and, when asked whether he has a target, he replied: “Staying in the job is my target. I never look at the table, but this is a fantastic three points. You don’t get carried away, but we’re making a good fist of it.
“Hopefully that keeps you in work. We need to kick on from this. Credit to the lads, they are learning every game and we are creating chances.”