Match ends, Southend United 2, Bradford City 0.
SouthendSouthend United2BradfordBradford City0
Second-half headers from Tom Hopper and Simon Cox handed Southend a 2-0 win over Bradford at Roots Hall.
The two strikers netted in quick succession to hand the Shrimpers their first victory of the season.
It could have been more for Chris Powell's side, who should have triumphed by a far greater margin following a number of missed chances.
The hosts dominated the majority of the first half with Stephen McLaughlin, Michael Kightly and Jason Demetriou all going close to opening the scoring.
At the start of the second half, John White saw his close range volley tipped onto the crossbar by Bradford goalkeeper Richard O'Donnell, but Powell did not have to wait much longer before the deadlock was finally broken.
It came in the 52nd minute, when Kightly's pin-point cross from the left was met by Hopper and the striker planted a firm header into the left hand side of the net for his second of the season.
Four minutes later, the Shrimpers doubled their lead when Kightly teed up Ben Coker and his cross was nodded into the back of the net by Cox.
The forward should then have added a third but his chipped shot bounced back off the crossbar, but the Shrimpers were comfortably placed to pick up their first win of the league campaign.
Report supplied by the Press Association.
Line-ups
Southend
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Oxley
- 24Demetriou
- 48White
- 6Turner
- 3Coker
- 11McLaughlin
- 8DiengBooked at 36mins
- 18Mantom
- 7KightlySubstituted forHendrieat 90'minutes
- 10CoxSubstituted forRobinsonat 76'minutes
- 9HopperSubstituted forKlassat 90+3'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Bwomono
- 13Bishop
- 20Klass
- 27Kyprianou
- 28McCoulsky
- 31Robinson
- 32Hendrie
Bradford
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1O'Donnell
- 3Chicksen
- 4McGowan
- 6O'ConnorBooked at 85mins
- 2RileySubstituted forMellorat 45'minutes
- 21AkpanSubstituted forMillerat 63'minutes
- 44Wright
- 36Colville
- 10PayneSubstituted forGibsonat 57'minutes
- 7Scannell
- 9Doyle
Substitutes
- 12Miller
- 13Wilson
- 15Mellor
- 22Knight-Percival
- 23Wood
- 26Hudson
- 27Gibson
- Referee:
- Tom Nield
- Attendance:
- 6,295
Match Stats
Home TeamSouthendAway TeamBradford
- Possession
- Home58%
- Away42%
- Shots
- Home21
- Away5
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away2
- Corners
- Home8
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Southend United 2, Bradford City 0.
Substitution
Substitution, Southend United. Michael Klass replaces Tom Hopper.
Post update
Attempt saved. Theo Robinson (Southend United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Attempt saved. Theo Robinson (Southend United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Southend United. Stephen Hendrie replaces Michael Kightly.
Post update
Stephen McLaughlin (Southend United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Sean Scannell (Bradford City).
Post update
Corner, Bradford City. Conceded by Sam Mantom.
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Attempt blocked. Luca Colville (Bradford City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Booking
Anthony O'Connor (Bradford City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Tom Hopper (Southend United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Anthony O'Connor (Bradford City).
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Foul by Tom Hopper (Southend United).
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Ryan McGowan (Bradford City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Ben Coker (Southend United).
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Sean Scannell (Bradford City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Attempt missed. Stephen McLaughlin (Southend United) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right.
Post update
Corner, Southend United. Conceded by Adam Chicksen.
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Attempt missed. Michael Kightly (Southend United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
