Bradford City 1 Gillingham 2: Bantams hit rock bottom as Hanson scores at both ends

The result lifted the impressive visitors to second in League One while City, without a win in their first four league and cup matches, slipped to the bottom of the table on goal difference.

City went in front in the seventh minute when the visitors’ defence failed to clear a low right-wing cross from Billy Knott and the unmarked James Hanson tapped the ball into the net from just outside the six yard area.

Lively Gillingham responded well from this setback and goal-scoring midfield player Bradley Dack brought the best out of Ben Williams in the 15th minute as he darted to the edge of the penalty before forcing the goalkeeper to make a fine one-handed save.

Bradford led 1-0 at half-time, but Gillingham deservedly equalised six minutes into the second half when Luke Norris beat Williams with a fierce shot from 25 yards.

Left-back Alan Sheehan missed a great chance to restore Bradford’s lead in the 64th minute when he headed wide from Josh Morris’s free-kick and Gillingham made City pay for that miss by scoring the winner after 72 minutes. Brennan Dickenson’s corner was headed goalwards by Adedeji Oshilaja and the ball appeared to take a deflection off Hanson before it entered the net.

Bradford came close to a stoppage-time equaliser when Hanson was denied by a superb reflex save by Stuart Nelson, but the visitors deserved their victory.

Bradford City: Williams, Darby, McArdle, Liddle, Sheehan, Routis (Anderson 33), McMahon, Knott, J Morris (Davies 68), Hanson, James (Marshall 75). Unused substitutes: Jones (gk), Meredith, N Clarke, Leigh.

Gillingham: Nelson, Jackson, Egan, Houghton, Hessenthaler, Donnolly, Norris (Williamson 82), Dack, Dickenson, Wright, Oshilaja. Unused substitutes: G Morris (gk), Garmston, Ehmer, McGlashan, Oldaker, List.

Referee: D Handley (Lancashire).

Freddie Sears set Ipswich on their way to a comfortable 2-0 home win over Burnley, just hours after penning a new four-year deal with the Tractor Boys.

Sears arrived early at Portman Road to sign his long-term contract before breaking the deadlock in the 66th minute.

David McGoldrick added his name to the scoresheet five minutes later as Town finally made sure of the triumph – to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.