BRADFORD City boss Stuart McCall was left to rue a lack of a cutting edge in the final third as his side went down 1-0 at the County Ground on Saturday.

The Bantams’ heaped plenty of pressure on the Town goal, but the closest they came to cancelling out Anton Rodgers’ free-kick was when James Hanson sent a looping header against the post in the second half.

Marc McNulty and Hanson wasted chances when in a good positions in the closing stages of the first period, while Josh Cullen did likewise shortly after the restart and McCall conceded Bradford wasted enough opportunities to win the game, let alone snatch a draw.

“We have had two or three really good chances in the first half. Even though we weren’t totally dominant in the first half, we had great chances and we have not been clinical,” said McCall.

“We came in at half-time and we knew we were going to get more opportunities because of the way we can play and the players we have got in the side.

“In the second half we hit the post, we had one cleared off the line, they made good blocks and I am left scratching my head.

“I’d have been disappointed going back with a point but we’ve not scored because we have not been clinical and that’s what football is all about.

“When you get your opportunities, you have got to take them and we’ve not done that, hence why we have lost the game.”

McCall conceded that there was nothing his team could do about Rodgers’ fabulous 30-yard free-kick that won Town the points, although he felt his side had been careless in the lead-up to the decisive moment.

“It was a little bit similar to Southend in that we were a little bit sloppy at the start of the game, they got two free headers from corners where we just weren’t wide awake,” said McCall.

“Then we made a couple of poor individual poor errors, giving the ball away leading to the free-kick for their goal.

“At the end of the day, they have won it with a great bit of skill with the boy putting it over the top of the wall. There’s not a lot you can do about that other than not give the silly free-kick away.”