Bradford City beat Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 in the Yorkshire derby at Hillsborough on Thursday night. The win was secured by Aden Baldwin's early second-half finish and marked the Bantams' 100 % record this term.
The match began with a passive City side that struggled against a 33,138-strong home crowd. Sheffield Wednesday dominated the first half, pressing and creating chances, while the visitors appeared uncharacteristic in their lack of aggression. By the break, the score was 0-0, but Bradford’s manager Graham Alexander used the interval to rally his players.
Alexander highlighted the mental shift that occurred at half-time, saying, “Half-time's a good time to gather yourself, have a look in the mirror and go, ‘no, I'm better than this.’” He recalled a similar scenario from the previous season’s match against Stockport County, where the Bantams were 1-0 down early and had to regroup. The comparison underscored the resilience he believes the squad now possesses.
In the second half, City’s intensity surged. They played on the front foot and suffocated the Owls, forcing errors and creating space. Aden Baldwin’s emphatic finish early in the second period sealed the 1-0 result. Alexander praised his players’ performance, noting that the team “displayed all the qualities that have typified their rise under Alexander.”
The manager also addressed a squad injury, confirming that Tyreik Wright will be out for six to eight weeks with a quad issue. He added that the team would need to adapt without the winger, but the win demonstrated depth.
Sheffield Wednesday’s side, meanwhile, showed signs of an unsettled squad. The club is still integrating new players, and the halves of their play have been inconsistent. Manager Henrik Pedersen noted that the Owls lack a clear leader in the middle of the pitch, though they have options wide. In midfield, the trio of Callum Slattery, Barry Bannan and Billy Mitchell - who debuted against City - provides a solid core.
Pedersen praised Mitchell’s strength and pressing ability, saying, “Billy is a strong player and you can see him, Barry and Slatts are strong together. They are good pressing midfielders and good midfielders on the ball.” He also mentioned that Mitchell was tired after 60 minutes and was substituted, hoping the player can play longer next time.
The Owls’ injury news included Jordi Liongola, who missed the match due to a hamstring issue. Pedersen allayed concerns, stating that Liongola’s lay-off would not be lengthy.
Overall, the match highlighted Bradford City’s tactical discipline and mental fortitude, while Sheffield Wednesday’s struggles with consistency and squad integration were evident. The 1-0 victory keeps the Bantams on a perfect record for the season.
