Colchester 1 Bradford City 0: Bantams punished again with late, late goal

Mark Hughes’s side had lost their opening game on the road at Barrow to a goal in added time.

And it happened again at Colchester when Tom Eastman headed home from Noah Chilvers’s free-kick.

Scott Banks had two chances for Bradford in the opening quarter and both were created by Alex Gilliead. The on-loan Crystal Palace drilled a cross-shot past the post before cutting into the middle only to shoot straight at goalkeeper Sam Hornby.

Bradford enjoyed an escape on 26 minutes when Frank Nouble headed Luke Hannant’s cross against the bar – with Harry Lewis appearing to get a slight touch to keep out his effort.

Lewis rescued City again as he pushed away a scuffed shot from Alex Newby. Hughes brought on Andy Cook and Kian Harratt for the final 15 minutes and the Huddersfield loan striker forced Hornby into a stretching save from a quick counter-attack.

Bradford were shouting for a late penalty when Angol went tumbling but referee Carl Brook ignored their loud protests.

Eastman broke the deadlock in added time before Cook hit the post in response.

Colchester: Hornby, Coxe, Chambers, Eastman, Kazeem, Marshall-Miranda, Hannant (Akinde, 88), Newby, Chilvers, Nouble (Clampin, 72), Sears. Unused substitutes: Collins, Tovinde, Tchamadue, Ashley, Dallison-Lisbon.

Bradford: Lewis, Halliday, Platt, Crichlow, Ridehalgh, Gilliead, Smallwood, Banks, Chapman (Harratt, 79), Young (Angol, 45), Oliver (Cook, 79). Unused substitutes: Doyle, Foulds, Songo’o, East.

Referee: C Brook (East Sussex)