Lincoln City’s push for automatic promotion gathered further momentum as Bradford City were comprehensively dismantled in a dominant 3-0 victory at the LNER Stadium, writes Gary Hutchinson at the LNER Stadium for The Deck.
In one of the most one-sided league games seen at the LNER Stadium this season, the Imps combined an aggressive press with complete control of territory and tempo, overwhelming a Bradford side that never truly recovered from a relentless opening spell. Three goals settled the contest, but the scoreline only hinted at the scale of City’s superiority.
There were no changes to the starting XI that beat Burton Albion four days earlier, although the return of Ben House and Tom Bayliss on the bench provided a welcome boost, while new signing Deji Elerewe was not involved. Bradford arrived without Will Swann and Antoni Sarcevic, while Josh Neufville was named among the substitutes.
City wasted little time asserting themselves. After two minutes, a lofted ball into the box found Freddie Draper, who turned sharply but sent his effort over under pressure. Draper was then caught by a high boot moments later, a challenge that somehow escaped a booking, but Lincoln soon made the free kick count. Reeco Hackett’s delivery was inch-perfect, and Draper rose unchallenged to head home for a deserved early lead.
The Imps kept coming. Tendayi Darikwa and Jack Moylan combined neatly to set up Rob Street, whose effort was blocked, before Moylan twice tested Walker with shots from promising positions. Panic spread through the Bradford back line when Adam Reach’s ball into the box was nearly sliced into his own net, and from the resulting corner Ivan Varfolomeev somehow missed an open goal.
Bradford briefly steadied, but the pressure never relented. Moylan and Street both went close before the second arrived, four minutes before the break. Hackett’s initial effort was blocked, Street nodded the loose ball into Moylan’s path, and the midfielder lashed a low strike beyond Walker to make it 2-0.
The hosts were applauded off at half-time, while Bradford were greeted with audible frustration from their travelling support. City emerged first for the second half and continued to dictate proceedings, even as Bradford enjoyed their best spell without seriously threatening. George Wickens dealt comfortably with the few crosses that arrived, and Lincoln soon reasserted their grip.
City went close to a third through Moylan and Hackett, while appeals for a penalty involving Conor McGrandles went unanswered. Substitutions followed on both sides, but the pattern remained the same, with Lincoln in control and Bradford increasingly subdued.
The contest was finally put beyond doubt four minutes from time. Tom Hamer delivered a superb cross from the left, and House, unmarked, powered a header past Walker to seal a thoroughly deserved 3-0 win.
As Bradford supporters filtered out early, the home crowd enjoyed a closing spell of chants and confidence. With key rivals also winning elsewhere, the table remains tight, but this was a statement performance. Dominant, composed, and ruthless, City looked every inch a side in control of its own destiny.
