Barrow 1 - 0 Bradford

CONNOR Brown ended his year-long wait for a goal to end Barrow’s home hoodoo.

David Dunn’s Bluebirds overcame bitter conditions to down the ten-man Bantams at Holker Street - the club’s first home win of the season.

After ending the club’s wait for a first win of the season, the Bluebirds now look on a roll with a second successive league win.

Dunn will be delighted his side dominated proceedings and could have won by more.

The Bluebirds’ boss made a solitary change to the side which registered the club’s historic first Football League win for 48 years last time out.

It was enforced after Josh Kay tested positive for coronavirus with Brown replacing him in Dunn’s starting line-up.

Conditions made it tough for either side to play attractive football with a swirling wind throughout the afternoon.

Luke James, who produced a pivotal man-of-the-match performance against Mansfield, had the first chance of the game.

The maestro did well to earn some space to turn and shoot but failed to trouble Richard O’Donnell.

But the Bluebirds brilliantly took the lead just a minute later as Brown bagged his first goal of the season.

The 28-year-old latched on the Jason Taylor’s incisive pass to fire into the bottom corner and give the hosts the lead.

Dunn’s charges kept the pressure on as Mike Jones’ long-range effort went wide.

Jones’ inviting free-kick was nodded off target by Patrick Brough.

Striker Dior Angus broke the offside trap and was frustrated as O’Donnell made a good low save to keep him out.

The visitors continued to fight for their lives as they scrambled Sam Hird’s header off the line.

Stuart McCall’s side went down to ten when Levi Sutton’s lunge on Taylor earned him a straight red.

After the hour the visitors started to push for an equaliser.

The Bantams’ best chance of the game fell to former Sheffield United forward Clayton Donaldson.

Anthony O’Connor burst through with a powerful run as Donaldson dragged wide after the cut back.

Connor Wood’s audacious long-range effort flew high and wide of the target.

Down the other end Angus saw his effort beaten away by on-song O’Donnell.

Bluebirds’ shot-stopper Joel Dixon’s first piece of work came when he easily held Dylan Mottley-Henry’s strike from range.

Playmaker James did well to drive to the byline but his cutback was grasped by O’Donnell.

A dogged Barrow backline held on for their first league clean sheet and consecutive victories in the Football League since April 1972.

Barrow: Dixon, Barry, Hird, Platt, Brough, Brown, M Jones, J Taylor, Biggins (C Taylor 73), James, Angus (Reid 73).

Subs not used: Moloney, Zouma, Wilson, Sea.

Booked: C Taylor.

Bradford City: O’Donnell, Hosannah, P O’Connor, A O’Connor, Cooke, Donaldson, Samuels (Mottley-Henry 63), Staunton, Sutton, Wood, Cousin-Dawson (Watt 73).

Subs no used: Hornby, Richards-Everton, Pritchard, French, Clarke.

Booked: Cousin-Dawson, Staunton.

Sent-off: Sutton.