Battling Bradford frustrate Coventry

Coventry City 0 Bradford City

Neither side could find the spark needed to enlighten a drab contest largely devoid of any excitement or clear chances at Highfield Road last night.

Not that the Bradford manager, Nicky Law, will care much about entertainment given the precarious position his side are in. This was only their third point from the last 30, a run that has seen the Bantams slip into the First Division relegation zone.

Michael Branch had the visitors' best chance in the first half, while Coventry's Mo Konjic should have done better with a mistimed header after the break. Near the end, Sky Blues' substitute Dele Adebola spurned a great opportunity to win the game, fluffing a simple tap-in from close range after good work from Andy Morrell.

Despite making a sluggish start, Bradford composed themselves and slowly dragged themselves into the contest. The home side were nearly punished after 20 minutes. A precise Dean Windass pass found Branch who unleashed a skidding drive that was well saved by Pegguy Arphexad low to his right.

With their usual passing game having little impact, Coventry raised the tempo in the second half and adopted a more direct style of play. It nearly worked as Graham Barrett's pin-point corner picked out Konjic at the far post and he should have done much better when his header from six yards spooned over the crossbar.

Coventry City (4-4-2): Arphexad; Whing, Konjic, Shaw, Warnock; Barrett (Adebola, 60), Safri, McAllister, Doyle; Suffo, Morrell. Substitutes not used: Shearer (gk), Pead, Staunton, Davenport.

Bradford City (4-3-1-2): Combe; Heckingbottom, Bower, Gavin, Emanuel; McHugh, Kearney, Summerbee (Edds, 82); Windass; Gray, Branch. Substitutes not used: Francis (gk), Muirhead, Forrest, Jacobs.

Referee: G Hegley (Bishop's Stortford).