Cardiff 1 Bradford City 3: Match stats and player ratings

CITY climbed to the top of League One in style, defeating Cardiff for the first time this season. SIMON PARKER, the T&A’s lead sports writer, was in South Wales yesterday and has provided match statistics and player evaluations. MAN OF THE MATCH.

Tommy Lee was only on for the first half, but his thunderous opening strike set the tone for City’s superb performance, the first goal surrendered from open play by Cardiff this season. Notable mentions go to Ibou Touray, who was the pick of the defence, and Antoni Sarcevic, the big game player who delivered again.

Alex Pattison sat out to follow concussion protocols after being hit in the face by a ball against Huddersfield. Tommy Leigh, his early substitute last week, returned to centre midfield in his absence.

That was the only alteration from the starting lineup that impressed in the local derby. Stephen Humphrys returned to the bench after a bout with tonsillitis.

Tom McIntyre, a loan signing, was included to the squad for the first time, and Jenson Metcalfe returned to the 18 after Ciaran Kelly and George Lapslie were dropped. Bookings: Osho, Wintle, J Colwill, R Colwill (Cardiff); Neufville, Power, Sarcevic, Wright (City).

ATTENDANCE: 22,132 (with 2,087 from City)

SHOTS ON TARGET: Cardiff 5 City 6

SHOTS OFF TARGET: Cardiff 10 City 11

CORNERS: Cardiff 4 City 7

FOULS: Cardiff 15 City 13

POSSESSION %: Cardiff 61 City 39

PLAYER RATINGS

CARDIFF: Trott 5.5, Kpakio 5 (Ng 46 min, 6), Fish 6, Osho 5 (J Colwill 78 min), Bagan 6, Turnbull 6, Wintle 5.5 (Robinson 57 min, 7), Ashford 6 (Davies 57 min, 6), R Colwill 6, Willock 6 (Kellyman 57 min, 6), Salech. 7. Subs (not used):

Chambers, Turner. CITY: Walker 7, Pennington 7, Baldwin 7.5 (McIntyre 71 minutes), Touray 8, Neufville 7, Leigh 8 (Metcalfe 46 minutes, 6.5), Power 7, T Wright 7, Sarcevic 8 (Halliday 90 minutes), Pointon 7, Swan 7.5 (Powell 67 minutes). Subs (not used): Humphrys, Cook, and Hilton.

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