Harambee Stars’ Clarke Oduor unlucky as  eight-game unbeaten run ends

Harambee Stars winger Clarke Oduor was unlucky to score from two open chances during Bradford City’s League Two encounter against Crew.

Bradford were defeated 1-0 by their rivals, with the Harambee Star unable to help even though he had opportunities to do so.

Crewe got the lead when they were awarded a penalty and took the 1-0 advantage to the break. Oduor and his charges were unable to get an equaliser despite pushing hard in the second half.

The deadlock was broken in the 12th minute when Johnson Tomkinson brought down Chris Long, who then sent Bradford goalkeeper Hary Lewis the wrong way to score.

In the 20th minute, the visiting side had an opportunity to equalise but a low, driven effort was saved by Crewe goalkeeper Tom Booth.

Just after the hour mark, Oduor, from some pocket of space, managed to drill a low ball across the box, but Tyler Smith turned it wide.

A long-range effort by the Harambee Star was saved by the Crewe goalkeeper, and the clearance only landed in a crowded area before the home side finally managed to clear.

Oduor manager made some attack-minded changes by bringing on Bobby Pointon, Vadaine Oliver, and Matt Derbyshire, and City pushed for a goal back.

However, Bradford were unable to get an equaliser and left empty-handed after conceding a defeat for the first time in nine matches.

Oduor’s manager, Graham Alexander, said he was gutted after the defeat.

“I am gutted for the team. We conceded a pretty poor penalty; we just switched off, but for the rest of the game, I thought we dominated.

“We got into some brilliant positions but just could not get that equaliser. To be honest, I would have been disappointed if we had gotten a draw.

“You want to get what you deserve in football, and today I thought we deserved three points. I said at halftime I have not got much we can improve on at that stage,” Alexander said.