Bradford 0 Bristol City 6: City are trounced as visitors confirm promotion

Leaders Bristol City last night made sure of a return to the Championship after a two-year absence with this rout of Bradford City at Valley Parade – City’s fourth defeat in five matches.
Bradford City manager Phil Parkinson saw his side well beaten by Bristol City (Picture: Bruce Rollinson).Bradford City manager Phil Parkinson saw his side well beaten by Bristol City (Picture: Bruce Rollinson).
Bradford City manager Phil Parkinson saw his side well beaten by Bristol City (Picture: Bruce Rollinson).

Ironically, Bradford had the first goalscoring chance in the seventh minute.

Billy Knott’s right-wing corner was headed back into the goalmouth by James Hanson, but defender Gary MacKenzie’s close-range shot was saved by goalkeeper Frank Fielding.

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After that it was one-way traffic as the home defence struggled to cope with the fast-moving visitors.

The Robins frequently stretched the home defence and it was no surprise when they went in front in the 17th minute through Bradford-born defender James Tavernier.

The Wigan Athletic loanee saw his first shot cleared off the line by Bantams’ captain Stephen Darby with Williams beaten, but fired home from the rebound.

The visitors doubled their lead after 35 minutes when Luke Freeman crossed from the by-line and Joe Bryan outjumped Darby to head into the net off the inside of the post to put Bristol City 2-0 in front at half-time.

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The visitors then scored four goals in a one-sided second half as they outclassed the Bantams, who had no answer to the onslaught.

Luke Ayling added the Robins’ third after 54 minutes with a 25-yard shot past the diving Williams.

Defender Aden Flint scored goal No 4, heading home from Marlon Pack’s free-kick in the 66th minute.

Tavernier made it 5-0 after 73 minutes with his second of the match.

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Joe Bryan pulled the ball back from the by-line and, after Kieran Agard’s shot was cleared off the line by James Meredith, Tavernier fired home from the rebound.

Captain Aaron Wilbraham completed the rout in the 79th minute with a shot from just inside the penalty area.

Bradford’s only response was a 20-yard shot from substitute Chris Routis that hit a post in stoppage time.

Bradford City: B Williams, Darby, MacKenzie, McArdle, Meredith, Morais (McMahon 76), Liddle, Knott (Routis 76), Yeates (Stead 45), Clarke, Hanson. Unused substitutes: Urwin, Zoko, Dolan, Halliday.

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Bristol City: Fielding, Ayling, Flint, D Williams, Tavernier, Pack, Freeman (Saville 80), Smith, Bryan (Cunningham 76), Agard, Wilbraham (Emmanuel-Thomas 81). Unused substitutes: Richards , Elliott, Osborne, Wagstaff.

Referee: S Attwell (Nuneaton).