Simon Grayson celebrated his first win as Bradford City boss to end their miserable recent form with a narrow victory against Gillingham.

Without the services of striker Josh Parker who was on international duty, Steve Lovell went with Conor Wilkinson up top, leaving Tom Eaves on the bench.

The hosts came into the game having picked up just two points from a possible 30 but Dominic Poleon’s fine strike after 48 minutes proved to be the difference.

Gillingham started strongly, with Conor Wilkinson going close before defender Callum Reilly tried his luck from 25 yards, his effort flying narrowly over the crossbar.

Alex Gilliead saw his cross cleared off the line by Max Ehmer in a rare Bradford attack while Tony McMahon saw his 25-yard free-kick drift just wide on 29 minutes.

The impressive Wilkinson headed straight at Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Colin Doyle before Scott Wagstaff fired just over on two occasions as the visitors looked most likely to break the deadlock.

However, Bradford were ahead just three minutes after the restart when a neat passing move found Poleon free on the edge of the area to fire into the bottom left corner for his seventh goal of the season.

Poleon missed a glorious chance to double his tally when he failed to make contact when he was free in the Gillingham area on 74 minutes, while substitute Kai Bruenker could only shoot at away goalkeeper Tomas Holy.

Tom Eaves stung the hands of Doyle at the other end and Wilkinson somehow headed over from six yards, while late efforts from Connor Ogilvie and Liam Nash failed to hit the target as Bradford held on.

The defeat sees The Gills drop to 13th place in League One, eight points outside the play-off places and next up for Steve Lovell’s side is Milton Keynes Dons at Priestfield on Thursday night.

 

Bradford City line up: Doyle, Kilgallon, Vincelot, Law (Devine 83), Warnock, Gillead, Guy, Knight-Percival, McMahon, Poleon (Patrick 89), McCartan (Bruenker 72).

Subs not used: Raeder, Dieng, Taylor, Grodowski.

Goal: Poleon (48).

Booked: Warnock (43), Devine (91), Brunker (95).

Gillingham line up: Holy, O’Neill, Reilly (Ogilvie 44), Ehmer, Zakuani, Byrne (Eaves 67), Hessenthaler (Nash 87), Martin, Wagstaff, Garmston, Wilkinson.

Subs not used: Nugent, Hadler, Nasseri, Moussa.

Booked: Zakuani (62).

Referee: Mr Ross Joyce

Attendance: 19,654 (298 Gills)