Shrewsbury Town 0 Bradford 1 - Report and pictures

In a day where safe standing returned to English football in an all-seater stadia, Askey’s new-look Shrewsbury impressed and frustrated as both goals lived a charmed life.

The Bantams led through Jack Payne’s 20th minute strike - a soft goal for the hosts to concede - and somehow that proved the difference throughout. Both sides hit the woodwork more than once with efforts cleared off the line in both impressive and sometimes absent defending.

Askey will be left with much to ponder but also plenty to build on as nine new signings saw action in front of an intrigued Meadow - with the Salop Leisure South Stand rail seating section creating brilliant noise and a thrilling atmosphere.

Analysis:

A new era at Montgomery Waters Meadow, not only with the management and 11 new signings, but with seven rows of rail seating in the Salop Leisure South Stand, which housed 555 opportunities for supporters to safely stand.

Town have been lauded as pioneers for making a stand for safe standing and there was real anticipation in the air ahead of kick-off as 555 blue balloons were released. They floated away into the sky behind the safe standing blocks.

The stand chanted ‘one Brian Caldwell, in ode to Town’s CEO who worked tirelessly to make the dream a reality. He then joined supporters’ parliament chiefs Roger Groves and Mike Davis in the rail seating.

On the pitch, new boss Askey had opted for six fresh faces to make up his first competitive Salop side.

Goalkeeper Joel Coleman, centre-half Kieran Kennedy, striker Aaron Amadi-Holloway and midfield trio Doug Loft, Josh Laurent and Charlie Colkett made the cut.

The remaining five signings made the bench alongside Town homegrown youngster Ryan Barnett.

The Bantams, managed by new boss Michael Collins - in his first job in senior management - included no less than nine new signings from the off after a hectic summer of business.

Ex-Town favourite Nat Knight-Percival was included in the heart of their defence.

The noise ahead of kick-off was deafening but the new safe standing supporters, alongside everyone else of a blue and amber persuasion in the Meadow, were hard-pressed for excitement inside five minutes as the visitors dominated.

They took Salop by surprised, playing intricate football and dominating the ball. Askey, wherever he was seated due to his touchline ban, might have been concerned.

But, as with the prowling assistant John Filan and coach George Pilkington in the dugout, the management would have felt more convinced as a quarter of an hour passed.

With midfielders Laurent and Colkett at the heart of it. Town began to patiently enjoy possession, pulling Bradford this way and that and working space.

Openings were few and far between but the hosts were far improved with the ball. Town’s confidence was signified with a 20-pass move that ended in Shaun Whalley’s shot blocked.

Unfortunately, within the bat of an eyelid they were then cut open.

Little Jack Payne, a fine coup for Bradford on loan from Huddersfield, fired low into the far corner from 12 yards to hand the visitors the lead.

But it was too easy. He had too much space. James Bolton could not deal with the lively George Miller on his own byline and, after the ball crossed the box, Payne rammed home.

Blue and amber heads didn’t drop and Colkett blazed a piledriver narrowly over and stabbed wide.

Centre-half Kennedy, who looked confident at the back making clearances, showed his presence in the opposition penalty box connecting to three successive Whalley corners as Town cranked up the heat.

As half-time drew near, Town’s familiar spritely workhorse No.7 Whalley took centre stage. He grabbed the bull by the horns and stole the show. Whalley gave left-back Adam Chicksen nightmares.

He curled an effort just wide from 25 yards before endless tempting crosses were just beyond Amadi-Holloway.

If Town fans were undecided on the first-half display then Askey’s men came out all guns blazing in the second period. Wave after wave of attacks had the Bantams scrambling as Salop did everything but score before the hour mark.

Omar Beckles, rampaging from left-back, had a header cleared off the line by Anthony O’Connor, before Colkett’s cross somehow found the tightest of gaps between attack and defence and dribbled wide.

As Shrews kept coming, with Amadi-Holloway knocking down headers, the moment seemed to arrive but Laurent could only lift beyond O’Donnell and on to the bar. Payne helped the rebound over.

The game opened up after the hour and it was a case of who could miss more chances. Defending was at a premium. Coleman in the Town goal made flying saves from distance and a stunning close-range touch on to the post.

Then the Bantams messed up an absolute sitter to seal the points as, for some reason, sub Eoin Doyle opted to square to the offside Miller when through on goal. The finish went wide.

Askey opted to send on midfielder Anthony Grant for his debut, with Alex Gilliead on too.

The latter immediately caught the eye. Direct, pacy and skillful dribbling had fans off their seat.

While Town’s goal was leading a charmed life. They were bereft of luck down the other end.

Town hit the woodwork for a second time as Gilliead spanked the crossbar from 25 yard. It was agonizing for the hosts. Inches away from a dream debut for the man who plied his trade at Valley Parade last season.

The sides continued to trade efforts on goal. Bradford will have wondered how they did not extend their advantage.

Askey and Town will be left to rue several chances on goal. It was not their day in the end - but, particularly in the second period, there were causes for optimism in this new-look blue and amber regime.

Key moments:

20 - GOAL. James Bolton will be disappointed as he could not see out George Miller on the byline. Jack Payne buries a low cross into the far corner with aplomb.

21 - Charlie Colkett smashes a piledriver not far over the top corner with Richard O’Donnell scrambling.

26 - Another loose ball drops the way of Colkett just inside the box and he sends a volley wide.

32 - Aaron Amadi-Holloway should shoot after a Shaun Whalley pass but opts against it and Bradford clear.

33 - Kieran Kennedy looks a real threat from corners and his header is tipped over by O’Donnell.

37 - Stefan Payne nods a difficult header over from Whalley’s cross.

40 - Shaun Whalley goes just inches wide with a 25 yard curled effort after some fine footwork. The Town winger looks really on his game.

48 - Just wide from Whalley as he has another go from outside the penalty area.

53 - Omar Beckles finds room at the back post but his goalbound header is fantastically cleared by a City defender.

54 - Colkett’s cross is agonizingly between the goalkeeper and defence and narrowly wide.

57 - Josh Laurent hits the bar. Nearly applied final touch to a decent move. Payne helps rebound over the top.

63 - Sean Scannell runs at Bolton and lets fly at Joel Coleman who makes a tremendous save with strong wrists at his near post for Shrewsbury.

72 - Somehow Bantams miss. Eoin Doyle squares for offside Miller, who misses. Poor. Should be game over.

77 - Akpan header from a corner cleared off the line by a Town man.

79 - Sub Alex Gilliead smacks the woodwork with a strike from 25 yards. Unlucky.

85 - Sub Fejiri Okenabirhie lashes wide.

89 - Josh Wright fires straight at Coleman before sub Tyrell Robinson volleys off Coleman’s near post, via a deflection.

Teams:

Shrewsbury Town (4-3-3):

Coleman; Bolton, Kennedy, Sadler (c), Beckles; Loft (Grant, 65), Laurent, Colkett (Gilliead, 74); Whalley, Amadi-Holloway, Payne (Okenabirhie, 81).

Subs not used: Arnold (gk), Haynes, Barnett, John-Lewis.

Bradford City (4-2-3-1):

O’Donnell; Mellor, O’Connor, Knight-Percival, Chicksen; Wright ©, Akpan (Seedorf, 85); Riley (Doyle, 65), Payne, Scannell (Robinson, 76); Miller.

Subs not used: Wilson (gk), McGowan, Bruenker, Hudson.

Referee: Kevin Johnson

Attendance: 7,625

Star man: Shaun Whalley. Carried on from last season.

Position in the table: 22nd (0 points from 1 game)