Parkinson relieved as run ends

Phil Parkinson was relieved after Carl McHugh's late header clinched a 1-0 win over Port Vale, the Bantams' first victory in 14 games.

While Vale missed an opportunity to put pressure on their rivals for a play-off place, Parkinson savoured a performance that will give his players a much-needed confidence boost. Parkinson said: "I am so relieved because that win has been a long time coming. "We have had so many close calls but here we played well throughout the game. We needed to put in a performance from first minute to last and we did that. "There was a determination to get the win. The boys are buoyant in the dressing room and rightly so because some of the football we played was out of the top drawer." McHugh was first to the ball when Bradford captain Gary Jones sent over a teasing cross two minutes into time added on and Parkinson added: "Carl has the biggest heart of anyone I have worked with. His goal typified that." Vale goalkeeper Chris Neal was in defiant mood as he pulled off excellent saves from James Hanson and Adam Reach. Rory McArdle rescued City by heading out from under his own crossbar after Chris Lines spotted home goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin off his goal-line and tried a speculative lob from the right. But Vale's best chance fell to skipper Doug Loft, who could not beat McLaughlin from a few yards out. Winger Reach, on loan from Middlesbrough, and captain Jones were Bradford's most potent weapons, but Vale's mean defence restricted opportunities, with Jack Grimmer and Joe Davis keeping a close watch. Bradford's luck was out when Reach saw his powerful angled shot thud back off the near post in the 76th minute, but the Bantams' intense pressure finally told and no-one could deny that they merited the win.