League One: Preston sweep past Bradford and close in on promotion

Bradford were reduced to 10 men after just 14 minutes when Christopher Routis was dismissed for tangling with striker Joe Garner

Dean Saunders has turned things round at Crawley, who yesterday notched a fourth win in six games (Getty)

Preston North End inched closer to automatic promotion today with a 3-0 win at Bradford City. Goals from Paul Gallagher, Daniel Johnson and Chris Humphrey clinched the points for the second-placed team.

Bradford were reduced to 10 men after just 14 minutes when Christopher Routis was dismissed for tangling with striker Joe Garner. Gallagher put the visitors ahead early in the second half, rifling in a rebound after goalkeeper Ben Williams had saved his initial penalty. Johnson drilled in a second six minutes later and Humphrey rounded it off to leave North End five points behind leaders Bristol City.

Crawley Town’s fourth win in six games moved them out of the bottom four as they defeated Oldham 2-0. Dean Saunders’ rejuvenated side leapt above Notts County, Crewe and Leyton Orient thanks to first-half strikes from Izale McLeod and Richard Wood.

Josh Wright’s 85th-minute equaliser kept Orient out of the relegation zone as they drew 3-3 with Gillingham, while Tendayi Darikwa’s first-half effort gave Chesterfield a 1-0 win over Crewe.

Notts County slipped to 22nd following a 0-0 draw with Coventry. The Magpies are now just one point above second-bottom Colchester, who came from behind to inflict a second defeat on Barnsley in three days. George Waring broke the deadlock for the visitors but goals from Gavin Massey, Jacob Murphy and George Moncur gave the U’s a 3-1 triumph and their third win in four games.

Fleetwood kept their play-of hopes alive with a 4-0 win over bottom-of-the-table Yeovil. David Ball scored twice. Peterborough and Walsall drew 0-0 and Calvin Andrew’s header in the fifth minute of stoppage time gave Rochdale a 1-0 win over Port Vale.