Tyreik Wright Volley Ends Bradford Losing Streak

Bradford City fans finally had reason to celebrate on January 31, 2026, as a late strike from Tyreik Wright ended the Bantams’ three-match losing streak and clinched a dramatic 1-0 win over Doncaster Rovers at Valley Parade. In a contest marked by fine margins, controversy, and flashes of individual brilliance, it was Wright’s 81st-minute volley—expertly dispatched into the roof of the net from 12 yards after a pinpoint cross from Josh Neufville—that proved decisive. The victory not only snapped a worrying run for Graham Alexander’s side but also restored belief in their League One promotion push, especially after a string of frustrating performances.

The build-up to this Yorkshire derby was fraught with tension. Bradford City, desperate to halt their slide after three consecutive defeats, faced a Doncaster side that had bested them in their previous four encounters. The stakes were high, and both teams played with an edge befitting the occasion. Doncaster, under the guidance of Grant McCann, made their attacking intent clear early on. Harry Clifton fired over the bar within the opening exchanges, and Hakeeb Adelakun’s header threatened to break the deadlock, only to bounce up onto the top of the crossbar.

Bradford’s nerves were tested further when a moment of chaos in their box saw goalkeeper Sam Walker spill a high ball under pressure. Veteran striker Billy Sharp pounced on the loose ball, but Matt Pennington’s heroic block on the line kept the match scoreless. It was a sign that this contest would be decided by the smallest of details.

Then came the first flashpoint of the afternoon: new signing Kayden Jackson, making his debut for Bradford, thought he had marked the occasion with a goal in the 11th minute. Sliding home from close range, Jackson and the home support erupted in celebration—only for the joy to be cut short. Referee Craig Hicks initially awarded the goal, but after a lengthy consultation with fourth official Paul Marsden, aided by Doncaster staff reportedly showing video evidence on a laptop, the decision was reversed for handball. The incident left both sets of supporters and managers fuming, highlighting the ever-present debate around officiating consistency in the modern game.

Doncaster boss Grant McCann was frank in his post-match assessment. “I thought it was a close game,” he told reporters. “I think we had the better chances in the first half. They had a couple of half-chances but I felt we defended everything they threw at us. We knew they're first in the league for long balls, so we knew we had to come here and defend. And we did, but the one moment that we don't, the one moment that we don't stop a cross from (Josh) Neufville or do a bit more to try and stop that cross, and the one moment we don't see the opposite wing-back, we've conceded. It's a tremendous finish. But we have to be better, though. We have to be better defending.”

McCann’s frustration was compounded by the disallowed goal—an episode that took several minutes to resolve. “The rule changed two, three years ago where if there's a handball leading into a goal, then it gets ruled out. What amazes me, and probably why everyone in the stadium was so frustrated, is because they've got a linesman 12 yards away and a referee four or five yards away and they can't see it. That's where you get frustrated as a manager. That's where you end up getting yourself in trouble. Because you're just asking people to do their job. So I'm glad they got there (in the end).”

On the opposite bench, Graham Alexander was equally outspoken about the officiating drama. “When we question a decision on the pitch, the fourth officials will say that he’s right there and closer to it than me. We hear that regardless of what they think has happened. He was under massive pressure from the opposition bench and I could hear them saying they’d seen it. He said he saw it live. We see it at the top level with VAR. How they come around with the decisions is not consistent. I know when we're questioning other things that go on the pitch, a lot of the feedback is that the referee is much closer to them than me. They can't have it both ways for me anyway.”

Despite the setback, Bradford City’s response was spirited. Jenson Metcalfe tested Doncaster’s resolve from distance, while Max Power rattled the crossbar and Bobby Pointon struck the post in a frantic spell before the hour mark. The home side’s persistence eventually paid off. With just under ten minutes remaining, Neufville surged down the flank and delivered a teasing cross. Wright, showing composure beyond his years, met the ball cleanly and sent it crashing into the net—a finish that left Doncaster’s Jordan Wright with no chance.

Alexander was effusive in his praise for the match-winner. “It was a brilliant finish. The biggest thing for me was that he trusted himself to go for it and not bring it down and play safe. We talk about going for it all the time and you’re never going to get any repercussions. We’re right in behind it and to see it go in the top corner, it was a brilliant goal.” He added, “I felt every time we had an opportunity to pass forward, run forward, take somebody on, have a cross, have a shot, we tried to take it. We play in that mindset of go for it and I thought we deserved to win that game just on that.”

For Doncaster, the defeat was a bitter pill, especially given their strong first-half showing and the sense that they might have deserved at least a point. McCann, reflecting on the narrow loss, summed up the contest as one of “fine, fine margins,” emphasizing that at this level, lapses in concentration can be costly. “Overall it was a pretty tight game and I'd have been disappointed stood here talking to you about a draw so I'm even more disappointed talking to you about a defeat. But ultimately, at this level, you need to stay switched on for 90, 95 minutes.”

The result leaves Bradford City rejuvenated and back in the thick of the League One promotion battle, while Doncaster are left to regroup and address the defensive lapses that proved costly. The passion and drama on display at Valley Parade served as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of the English lower leagues—where every point, every decision, and every moment of inspiration can shape the destiny of a season.

As the final whistle sounded, it was Bradford’s resilience and renewed identity that shone through. For Alexander and his players, this hard-fought victory could be the spark that reignites their campaign, while Doncaster are left to ponder what might have been on a day when the margins were razor-thin.