Bradford City 0 Cheltenham Town 1: Duke mistake costly to City but Parkinson not happy with whole team

Parkinson, who kept his players in the dressing room for half an hour after the match, said: “We are frustrated – we were flat, the tempo of our play was flat. It was a poor performance against a good side. We are the home team and we should be taking the game to them. We have got to be stronger in all departments.”

Parkinson was also critical of goalkeeper Matt Duke after he conceded the only goal of the match in the eighth minute.

The impressive James Spencer delivered a low cross from the right and Darryl Duffy stepped over the ball to allow it to go through to Kaid Mohamed, who beat the diving Duke with a low, 15-yard shot.

“Matt Duke should have done better with that,” said Parkinson. “The goalkeeper has held his hands up, but that goal should have been stopped.

“When you are up against a team with a 4-5-1 system on your own ground it is very difficult and when you give them a goal start it is doubly difficult.”

City, who have now failed to score in each of their last three matches, rarely looked like ending that depressing record as Cheltenham restricted them to a mere handful of chances and the visitors always looked the more dangerous side.

Spencer ought to have a scored a second goal in the 30th minute when he failed to connect with a cross from Darryl Duffy. Marlon Pack in the first half and Duffy twice early in the second half both tested Duke, while captain Michael Flynn headed Mohamed’s shot off the line.

Bradford City: Duke, Moore (Wells 76mins), Oliver, Seip, O’Brien, Bryan (Hannah 60mins), Flynn, Jones, Reid, Hanson, Fagan. Unused substitutes: McLaughin (gk), Williams, Mitchell.

Cheltenham Town: Butland, Jombati, Elliott, Bennett, Garbutt, Summerfield, Pack, Penn, Spencer (Goulding 88mins), Mohamed (Smikle 83mins), Duffy (Low 73mins). Unused substitutes: Lowe, Graham.

Referee: C Sarginson (Staffordshire)

Man of the match: L Oliver.