Shrewsbury Town 1-0 Bradford City

On-loan Crystal Palace striker Freddie Ladapo was one of three Town players making their home debut

On-loan Crystal Palace striker Freddie Ladapo marked his home debut by scoring the winner just before half-time as lowly Shrewsbury Town beat high-flying Bradford City.

Yet, despite enjoying their first win in almost a month, Shrewsbury actually plunged back into the League One bottom four on goal difference, as a result of the size of Bury's 5-1 win at home to Peterborough.

Shrewsbury started brightly, skipper Adam El-Abd heading Joe Riley corner over the bar before Louis Dodds cleverly cut inside to fire powerfully off target.

Bradford winger Mark Marshall's well-struck shot was then pushed away by home goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler but opposite number Colin Doyle then pulled off a fine save to keep out a close-range effort from Ladapo at the other end after he neatly exchanged passes with Dodds.

Shrewsbury then broke the deadlock in the 41st minute when Dodds pounced on a slip from former Shrewsbury defender Nat Knight-Percival on the halfway line.

Although Doyle did well to save his shot, Crystal Palace loan man Ladapo was on hand to tap in the loose ball.

Marshall and Josh Cullen both came close from free-kicks for fourth-placed Bradford in the second half but, with reprieved centre-back Aristote Nsiala also making his home debut, Paul Hurst's side defended impressively.

And the hosts were always lively when they broke, Alex Rodman and Shaun Whalley both firing just over before Whalley volleyed an inviting cross from the lively Ladapo wide. But the size

Report supplied by the Press Association.