Shrewsbury 0 Bradford City 1 - Report

Town relinquished top spot in League One after not profiting from a dominant first-half, The visitors struck 10 minutes after the break, as defender Nsiala flicked a cross in over Dean Henderson.

Paul Hurst’s men rallied late on and despite forcing Rouven Sattelmaier into late saves, were unable to strike a deserved equaliser.

The second defeat in a week for Town made it three league defeats in four.

Winger Alex Rodman passed fit to return to Hurst’s first XI after an ankle problem forced him out of the midweek defeat at Bury.

There were also starts for Bryn Morris, his first since the opening day win against Northampton, and James Bolton - who came in for Joe Riley at right-back.

Visitors Bradford, who boast the best away record in League One, were hit by an injury crisis in goal. Colin Doyle’s knee injury meant the inexperienced Rouven Sattelmaier deputised.

Stuart McCall’s side had previous lost just once on their league travels this season, winning six from nine.

B Morris, as on the opening day, took over the deep-lying midfield option, with Ben Godfrey afforded the license to use his athleticism further forward.

Godfrey used his offensive position well in the opening moments, carving out attacking moments for Shaun Whalley and Bolton.

The visitors weren’t shy themselves in the opening 10 minutes, looking particularly lively on the right flank through Newcastle loanee Alex Gilliead, who sent in a couple of fierce crosses.

But the undoubted gilt-edge early opening came way of Town top scorer Stefan Payne. The nine-goal hitman was almost in a state of shock as the ball found its way to the striker unmarked six-yards out.

With no offside flag, Payne couldn’t sort out his feet and the ball struck his standing leg.

The even contest was easy on the eye with both teams showing flashes of their early season form.

After a cynical shoulder went unpunished following another Godfrey run, the on-loan Norwich man rose powerfully to meet a Whalley free-kick but headed inches wide.

Uncharacteristically Payne was again unable to find his feet in the area after an inviting deflection.

Despite impressive approach play, Hurst would have been disappointed with the lack of attempts on Sattelmaier’s goal. The former Bayern Munich youngster looked very uncertain with the ball at his feet, with some questionable kicking.

It wasn’t for the lack of efforts on goal from the hosts, as Whalley sent a fierce left-footed drive a couple of feet over before Jon Nolan sent a gorgeous curling effort just over the German’s top left corner.

It was obvious why McCall’s side had impressed on the road this term. Solid defending from Toto Nsiala kept the Bantams at bay with both Paul Taylor and Romaine Vincelot probing.

But Town grew stronger in the opening period, Payne lashed a terrific effort across the goal before turning from a throw-in and testing Sattelmaier for the first time down low.

The half-time whistle came at a bad time for impressive Shrewsbury but they began the second period in the same fashion.

Another uncharacteristic lack of touch in the box saw Nolan swing at air following a fine Whaley burst in which the winger skinned his two markers.

For all of their dominance and threat, Town were dealt a huge blow 10 minutes into the second period.

Gilliead was sent scampering down the right from a fine flick and sent a low cross towards the unmarked Taylor.

Covering defender Nsiala did well to get his body between the cross and Taylor, but the ball unfortunately flicked off Town’s defender and almost in slow motion over Dean Henderson.

Nsiala was crestfallen. It was a case of how’s your luck?

The unjust opener knocked the stuffing out of Hurst’s men, as they struggled to find the same rhythm and control, with the Bantams growing in confidence.

Hurst rolled the dice with 20 minutes remaining and sent on Carlton Morris up front alongside Payne.

B Morris and Nolan started to see more of the ball again in midfield, with C Morris proving a lively option running into the channels.

The belief rose back into the stands at Montgomery Waters Meadow. Town answered their fans and went in search of a priceless equaliser, with Rodman shooting low at Sattelmaier.

The German then showed some of his best to acrobatically keep out Whalley as Town’s No.7 arrowed a fine strike towards the top left hand corner.

The keeper denied sub C Morris with more impressive shot-stopping.

Town were staring down their first home league defeat in seven-and-a-half months as the Bantams defended intelligently to proper a number of balls into their box.

An almighty scramble wouldn't drop Shrewsbury's way deep into added time.

Unsavoury scenes at the end, including a fan coming on to the pitch and being dragged off by Town’s keeper Henderson and the the shot-stopper arguing with visiting fans, capped a forgettable afternoon for Hurst’s side.

10 - Big chance for top scorer Stefan Payne but his first touch gets away from his after Jon Nolan’s low shot finds him on the six-yard line.

19 - Ben Godfrey is impressing in an advanced position and heads just wide at the far post from Shaun Whalley’s cross.

23 - Another ball drops invitingly for Payne but he is unable to get his foot on it.

32 - Alex Rodman, returning from an ankle injury, connects to Whalley’s deep cross but can only head onto the top of Rouven Sattelmaier’s net.

42 - Payne lashes a strike from distance narrowly wide.

44 - A first effort on goal. Payne turns his defender superbly from a throw-in before firing low at the goalkeeper’s near post. Saved.

45 - After fine work from James Bolton, he cuts the ball back and Godfrey fires low and wide.

46 - Jon Nolan can’t make any connection when unmarked in the area after Whalley’s low cross, the winger impressively skinned two Bradford men in the build-up.

47 - Whalley heads straight at Sattelmaier.

55 - GOAL Bradford! Gilliead charges down the right in a rare Bantams attack, his low cross for Paul Taylor flicks off Toto Nsiala and over Dean Henderson into the net.

62 - Former Town defender Nat Knight-Percival ended up in Row Z as he connected to a Tony McMahon free-kick only to find the side netting.

72 - Rodman is denied as his low curling strike is collected by the goalkeeper.

77 - Carlton Morris shows neat skill and his powerful effort is kept out by Sattelmaier.

78 - Whalley’s spectacular strike is kept from the top corner by Sattelmaier who saves brilliantly.

90+3 - The mother of all scrambles somehow stays out as Town went in search of another late goal. It was not forthcoming this time.

Shrewsbury (4-1-4-1): Henderson; Bolton, Nsiala, Sadler © (John-Lewis, 89), Beckles; Godfrey (C Morris, 72); Whalley, Nolan, B Morris, Rodman; Payne

Subs not used: MacGillivray (gk), Riley, Adams, Dodds, Gnahoua.

Bradford (4-3-3): Sattelmaier; McMahon, Knight-Percival, Kilgallon, Hendrie; Reeves, Law (Robinson, 54), Vincelot ©; Taylor (Thompson, 76), Gilliead, Wyke

Subs not used: Raeder (gk), Poleon, McCartan, Pybus, Patrick

Referee: Michael Salisbury

Attendance: 7,165

Position in the table: 2nd (40 points from 19 games)

Star man: James Bolton.