Clarke Oduor continues to struggle in unfamiliar position as Bradford City are beaten at home

Photo Credit || Walsall FC

STARS ABROAD Clarke Oduor continues to struggle in unfamiliar position as Bradford City are beaten at home

Mark Kinyanjui 10:00 - 01.10.2023

Normally a left-sided player, Bradford City coach Mark Hughes has been using Clarke Oduor as a right winger, and he is taking time to adapt to the new role.

Harambee Stars midfielder Clarke Oduor will need time to adapt to a new inverted right winger role as he produced a fairly average performance as Bradford City were beaten 3-1 by Walsal in a SkyBet League Two match on Saturday.

Oduor, who has been used by Man United legend Mark Hughes as an inverted right winger, is taking time to adapt to the new role and it showed, as he was subbed off after 53 minutes as Bradford tried in vain to turn the result around.

Oduor had 32 touches of the ball and was accurate with 15 of his attempted passes. Of the 17 passes, one was at least a key pass. He failed to find his target with all of his five attempted crosses, and lost the ball 14 times.

Of the ball, he only won two of his attempted seven ground duels. He will need time to continue adapting to the new role, having been used as a left sided player for much of his career.

First half goals from Liam Gordon and Aramide Oteh and a second half header from Freddie Draper were enough to complete the turnaround for the Saddlers against Bradford after Andy Cook had opened the scoring for the home side from the penalty spot. 

From 12-yards, former striker Cook stepped up and smashed it home high into the net past Evans to give Mark Hughes' side the lead.

However, the home side weren’t ahead for long as Gordon got the Saddlers back on level terms just three minutes later. 

The full-back cut in from the left and opened his body up to bend the ball into the far corner past Harry Lewis with his right foot. 

Right on the stroke of half time and the Saddlers got themselves ahead thanks to a slight touch of good fortune. 

A left-wing corner from Ross Tierney was flicked on at the near post by Oisin McEntee and after a couple of ricochets, the ball hit Oteh and bundled its way over the line. 

Into the second half and it took the Saddlers 11 minutes to extend their lead when another in-swinging corner from Tierney was missed by Lewis and nodded into an empty net by the unmarked Draper.

Bradford enjoyed a lot of possession in the closing stages but Walsall stood firm and claimed a deserved three points at the University of Bradford Stadium.