Blackpool 1 Bradford City 0

Last updated : 29 August 2005 By Footymad Previewer
Blackpool's players gave the sort of reaction their manager desperately wanted after Colin Hendry admitted his job was on the line.

He spoke after the 4-0 humbling at Rotherham knowing his side had to take all three points against City to avoid calls for his head.

When defender Rob Edwards was red carded in the 36th minute for his second rash foul of the game, Hendry must have thought his pre-match words were coming true as City piled on the pressure against a rearranged defence.

However good City's approach play was their strikeforce was decidedly shot-shy. Dean Windass wasted two good free-kick chances and Bobby Petta had a shot brilliantly saved by Les Pogliacomi in the 20th minute.

The outstanding Pogliacomi also denied Richard Edghill with a great stop as Blackpool really rode their luck.

In the second half the Seasiders were far more settled with skipper Peter Clarke and Tony Butler dominant in the heart of the home defence.

Despite being a man down Blackpool always looked dangerous on the break with the speedy Keigan Parker constantly flirting with the offside trap. Substitute Keith Southern almost broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute when he hit the bar with a header from Parker's cross.

Hendry's second substitution was to bring on John Murphy for Scott Vernon and it did the trick. With six minutes left Murphy won a vital header in the box and 19-year-old Simon Wiles bravely headed home past Russell Howarth.

It was Wiles' first ever League start and his debut goal celebrations got him an immediate booking and he was substituted when Hendry decided he needed another defender to hold out in the last few minutes.