Bradford City picked off by bogey men yet again

It had begun yesterday morning with the shock news that David Syers will be out of action for the next three months.

And Jackson’s mood did not improve with City’s third successive defeat at the Crown Ground last night.

Stanley’s compact home has been a house of pain for the Bantams in recent seasons. Even with City’s much-revamped side, some things sadly never change.

Jackson’s second-half substitutions had shifted the momentum at Oxford on Saturday and two of those replacements were rewarded with call-ups to the starting 11.

Michael Bryan’s presence meant that City could switch to 4-4-2 with Chris Mitchell and Michael Flynn in the engine room. And Ross Hannah, still feeling ten-foot tall after his first senior goal, got the nod over Mark Stewart as James Hanson’s attacking foil.

City, wearing black third-kit shirts, had the ball in the net in the first minute after some comical home defending. But the offside flag went up as Hannah lobbed in to spare Accrington blushes.

Mitchell snatched at a half-chance before Luke Joyce fired just over the City bar from Accrington’s first corner.

But City could have been ahead on 14 minutes. Michael Flynn released Hanson down the right and the big man squared invitingly for Hannah, who seemed to miss his kick completely.

Wes Fletcher, making his Accrington debut on loan from Burnley, responded straight away with a shot on the turn but it was straight at Martin Hansen.

Fletcher looked a handful and Luke Oliver had to be alert to block him out after Bryan had been crowded out on the halfway line.

Flynn unleashed a long shot past the post before City had a major scare. Hanson’s mistake gifted possession to Charlie Barnett and Fletcher’s chipped cross deceived Hansen and bounced back off the bar before Guy Branston could welly away.

Hanson twice went down within seconds but City’s penalty appeals met a deaf ear from first-year ref Dean Mohareb. It was becoming a feisty affair and both keeper Hansen and Accrington striker Kurtis Guthrie needed treatment after challenges.

City’s setpieces had been good at the weekend and Hanson nodded Mitchell’s free-kick across goal for Jack Compton to force a good save from Sean Murdoch. But it wouldn’t have counted anyway as the flag was up against the visitors – and not for the first time.

Jackson was an agitated figure on the touchline and clearly felt his side weren’t getting the rub of the green from the officials. The manager’s arms seemed permanently raised against the referee’s decisions.

Accrington’s hustling style was not allowing City to settle on the ball. It was certainly an eye-opener for Bryan and Compton on the two flanks and both found themselves closed down instantly whenever the ball headed in their direction.

Compton had one final chance at the end of the half but put far too much on his cross – leaving Jackson punching the air in frustration once more. It had been that sort of game.

The robust nature of the encounter had not allowed for too much free-flowing football but Jackson decided against a change of personnel for the restart.

Hansen was quickly called into action with a smothering save from Luke Joyce and Accrington sub Craig Lindfield, who had replaced the ineffective Guthrie at the break, sent a sharp, rising drive across goal.

Accrington were trying to turn the screw and more and more black shirts were getting penned in their own penalty area.

Mitchell defended a deep free-kick from Sean Hessey very well but Hansen was under pressure from the resulting corner and needed two grabs when the ball was pumped back into the goalmouth.

Hanson held off Hessey to send City’s first effort of the half a couple of feet over the bar. Then Hannah worked hard to keep the ball in and deliver a great cross which caught his strike partner on his heels.

City were coming back into it and Compton showed Peter Murphy a clean pair of heels and put in a dangerous cross which Dean Winnard scooped out of trouble.

Robbie Threlfall was getting stuck in at left back but let himself down with a wild slice which gave away a cheap corner. Fortunately it came to nothing as Hessey blasted high and wide.

Jackson decided to make his two changes with 25 minutes to go. Hannah made way for Nialle Rodney while Ritchie Jones came on for Bryan.

Rodney wasted no time in muscling his way past centre half Kevin Long but the ref blew for a foul before he could round Murdoch.

Rodney’s arrival was asking different questions of the Accrington back four while Compton was becoming a bigger threat as the game went on. Another decent cross nearly found its way to Hanson ten yards out.

City were indebted to a fine save from Hansen after 75 minutes. Fletcher worked his way past Oliver and teed up Joyce, whose snap shot was turned away by the Dane at full stretch.

But they paid the price two minutes later with another goal that will not look good on the video re-run.

Branston’s clearing header was knocked straight back into the mix after the ball was lost in midfield and Fletcher slipped his way clear and calmly toe-poked past the advancing keeper.

City’s skipper tried to repair the damage from the next attack but hooked over the bar on the turn from close range after Mitchell’s deflected effort had dropped behind him.

Mitchell then became the first name to go in the book for pulling back Fletcher. Things could have got worse for City as Joyce found room to shoot but his effort was deflected away from danger with Hansen already committed to his dive.

But Stanley had done enough to send City back over the Pennines once again with nothing to show for their efforts.