Bradford City vs Southend United. Sky Bet League One.
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Tuesday 16 February 2016 22:31, UK
James Hanson headed his 10th goal of the season as Bradford closed to within three points of the play-off places with a 2-0 home win against Southend.
Striker Hanson, who scored twice in Saturday's 4-0 win at Peterborough, struck the game-clinching goal in the second half after Tony McMahon's superb free-kick had given Bradford a 1-0 interval lead.
Southend striker Noel Hunt's rising shot forced a brilliant save from Bradford goalkeeper Ben Williams in the 15th minute, but McMahon curled home from 25 yards after Cian Bolger's foul on Kyel Reid two minutes later.
Wes Thomas, on loan from Birmingham, went close to curling home his first Bradford goal soon after and Hanson crashed a shot inches over the crossbar.
Southend threatened through Stephen McLaughlin soon after the break, but visiting goalkeeper Daniel Bentley blocked brilliantly to deny McMahon his second at the far post before City doubled their lead in the 74th minute.
Hanson's header from McMahon's corner bounced down off the crossbar and rebounded off Bentley over the goalline to seal back-to-back league wins for Bradford for the first time since November and lift them up to eighth place in the table.
