Simon Francis is beaten by Nicky Forster.
Click here for full match stats
Nicky Forster fired his 13th goal of the season to give 10-man Reading a 1-0
win over an out-of-sorts Bradford at Valley Parade.
The Royals' leading scorer pounced midway through the second half to seal the
points for the visitors, who had been reduced to 10 men by the dismissal of
Nathan Tyson on the stroke of half-time for two bookable offences .
Bradford were lacking in ideas in the absence of injured Ashley Ward, and
Forster's strike was no more than the visitors deserved.
After being outplayed in the first half, Bradford were quick out of the blocks
after the re-start - with Andy Gray's snap-shot from the edge of the box well
held by Marcus Hahnemann.
Bradford were given a warning when John Salako stabbed narrowly wide after a
slick Reading move, and then Forster struck on 65 minutes to capitalise on some
sloppy Bradford defence.
A back-pass by David Wetherall put Aidan Davison under pressure, and his
clearance fell to Forster who raced into the box and buried his shot past the
advancing goalkeeper.
Forster had already crashed a shot against the woodwork 10 minutes before the
break.
The Royals had justified their high-flying status by controlling much of the
half - with Tyson a constant menace before his dismissal, forcing Davison to
save early on and then lifting his shot over the bar after a slip by Simon
Francis.
Bradford's only real chance of the first period fell to Mark Bower, who might
have done better when he headed Danny Forrest's corner over midway through the
half.
Tyson then forced another save from Davison, but that was the end of his
contribution after he was given his marching orders.
Teams
Bradford Davison, Uhlenbeek, Wetherall, Bower, Jorgensen,
Francis, Atherton, Lawrence, Reid (Standing 75), Gray,
Forrest (Muirhead 70).
Subs Not Used: Walsh, Fishlock, Ekoku.
Booked: Bower, Wetherall.
Reading Hahnemann, Murty, Brown, Viveash, Shorey, Harper,
Newman, Hughes, Tyson, Salako (Igoe 67), Forster (Henderson 90).
Subs Not Used: Watson, Cureton, Ashdown.
Sent Off: Tyson (45).
Booked: Tyson, Igoe, Forster.
Goals: Forster 66.
Att: 11,385
Ref: S Mathieson (Cheshire).
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