Danny Rose and Jason Svanthorsson struck to give Grimsby Town a first league victory over Bradford City in 26 years.
The Mariners produced an excellent team performance at a noisy Blundell Park to get the better of the previously-unbeaten Bantams and keep up their 100 per cent Sky Bet League Two start on home turf so far this season.
Rose put Town ahead just before the half-hour mark and although they missed chances to add to their lead ahead of the break, Svanthorsson’s first goal for the club had them in control just after the restart.
Bradford pulled one back through substitute Olly Sanderson and after looking impressive in attack, Town showed grit and determination in defence to ensure a hardworking display was rewarded with a win.
Jordan Wright replaced Jake Eastwood in the only change to the Grimsby starting XI following the Carabao Cup defeat by Sheffield Wednesday in midweek.
Wright lined up in goal, with Tyrell Warren, Harvey Rodgers, Cameron McJannet and Denver Hume forming the defence. George McEachran, Kieran Green and Evan Khouri were the midfielders, while Svanthorsson and Charles Vernam supported striker Rose.
Eastwood was named on the bench and he was joined there by Lewis Cass, Matty Carson, Luca Barrington, Callum Ainley, Doug Tharme and Donovan Wilson.
Bradford were visiting Cleethorpes for the second time this season, having lost on penalties to the Mariners after a 1-1 draw in the first round of the Carabao Cup. Former Town striker Andy Cook was likely to be among the main goal threats for Graham Alexander’s side.
An early ball into the home penalty area from Bobby Pointon was claimed by Wright, before Hume almost found Svanthorsson at the other end after an excellent move from the back down the Town left.
The away side were then forced into an early change after defender Aden Baldwin stayed down and was unable to continue. He was replaced by Jack Shepherd.
Rose saw the first yellow card of the afternoon for a foul on Neil Byrne on 10 minutes, then Callum Kavanagh was brought down by Khouri, 30 yards from goal, as the stop-start opening to the game continued. Tyreik Wright sent the free kick towards the far post but it was too far ahead of the run of Cook.
Vernam saw a penalty claim waved away when he went down under contact as he jumped to meet a cross, although a free kick was given soon afterwards when Rose was brought down on the left. Vernam’s delivery to the far post was eventually dealt with.
Bradford won the first corner on 21 minutes after Hume was dispossessed by Alex Pattison in midfield. The flag-kick was headed away by Rose.
Neither side had managed to make an impression in front of goal as the midway point of the first half passed, although Bradford were stepping up the pressure and a strike by Kavanagh had to be cleared off the line, before a long-range attempt was blocked for a corner.
A cross from Green at the other end beat everybody after a neat build-up on the Town right, then a free kick was given for a foul on Green after an initial advantage was played when Svanthorsson went down. From it, the Mariners took the lead as Hume’s superb delivery from the right was missed by goalkeeper Sam Walker and when the ball broke for Rose, he made no mistake from 12 yards.
Rodgers stepped in to stop Bradford’s Wright as he cut into the box with the visitors looking for a reply, then Town had a great opportunity to double their advantage when a slick attacking move led to an opening for Khouri, although he was unable to take the chance from close range.
The Grimsby pressure continued with a corner on 37 minutes after a second penalty shout from the home fans was waved away as Vernam was narrowly beaten to the ball. The flag-kick was played short and then crossed towards the penalty spot, where Cook got to it first.
Shepherd got a vital touch to a shot from Rose to deflect it away for a corner after the striker had claimed a loose ball and taken it forward into the box, then a good challenge by Warren stopped Bradford’s next attack as Wright aimed to cross from the left.
Six added minutes were played at the end of the first half and Svanthorsson was caught offside as he met a chip into the box from Rose, with the Mariners looking the more likely of the two teams to add to the scoring.
But Bradford had an opportunity when Smallwood was brought down by Warren in a central position, 25 yards out. The defender was booked but Kavanagh’s free kick hit the Town wall and as a result, the hosts’ lead remained intact at the interval.
SECOND HALF
Fulham loanee Sanderson replaced Kavanagh for the away side before the restart but within two minutes, Town had doubled their lead. Green showed good strength to go clear on the right before pulling the ball back for Svanthorsson, who took a touch, turned and beat Walker to open his goalscoring account for the club.
Green was inches away from making it 3-0 when his curling strike from the edge of the box was touched around the post by the outstretched fingertips of the keeper as the home side’s electric start to the second half continued.
Sanderson mis-hit a volley at the other end, before Shepherd was booked for delaying the taking of a Town free kick.
Vernam won a corner on 57 minutes when his 20-yard strike was deflected over the bar and it was played short to Hume, who burst into the box but saw his low cross blocked.
Town remained on top as the hour mark passed, although McJannet became the latest to be booked when he brought Sanderson down to stop a break through the middle.
Khouri went close again when his low effort rolled just wide of the far post after a great move around the edge of the box, as the hosts pressed for a third goal.
Clarke Oduor and Jamie Walker were then sent on by the visitors in an attempt to turn their fortunes around, with Pattison and Bobby Pointon making way.
Rodgers was booked on 67 minutes for pulling Cook back as the striker attempted to break into the box, although Smallwood’s resulting free kick was claimed by Wright in the Town goal.
Bradford’s Wright also saw the yellow card after a foul on Rose with 19 minutes remaining, before a strike by Svanthorsson was blocked following a clever free kick from Vernam.
But with 78 minutes on the clock, the away side were suddenly back in the contest as they halved their deficit. Oduor made progress to the edge of the box and after his low shot was not held by Wright, SANDERSON followed up to score from the rebound.
Cass and Ainley replaced Vernam and Khouri four minutes later as Town made defensive reinforcements in a bid to hold on for all three points.
A Smallwood free kick from the right soon afterwards was headed away by McJannet, then a shot on the turn by Walker rolled just wide of the far post as Bradford pushed for an equaliser.
Sanderson hit a low strike from 20 yards which was comfortably held by Wright, before more Grimsby changes saw Barrington and Carson replace Svanthorsson and McEachran.
Walker was booked for a foul on Carson as the game moved into at least four added minutes and Town saw out the remainder of the game to claim an impressive victory and a first in the league over Bradford since a 2-0 Division One success in October 1998.
The Mariners are next in action on Saturday, when they travel to Chesterfield.
Town: Wright, Warren, Rodgers, McJannet, Hume, McEachran (Carson, 87), Green, Khouri (Ainley, 82), Svanthorsson (Barrington, 87), Rose, Vernam (Cass, 82)
Subs not used: Eastwood, Tharme, Wilson
