Bradford City 2 Stevenage 3: Mclean backed to end drought by Parkinson

The disappointment was all the harder to bear as the Bantams led twice and should have established a potentially unassailable 3-1 advantage.

Unfortunately, striker Aaron Mclean has now gone eight matches without a goal since arriving from Hull City and his 57th minute miss from six yards proved so costly.

Four minutes later Bira Dembele headed against Bradford’s bar and three minutes after that, match-winner Luke Freeman hit the first of his two high-quality goals.

It all started so promisingly for City when Adam Reach tucked away James Hanson’s knock-down for his first goal since joining from Middlesbrough.

Francois Zoko equalised with his 17th goal of the season midway through the first half and Hanson restored the advantage after goalkeeper Chris Day had parried Reach’s powerful shot into his path.

Mclean created two good opportunities for himself before badly slicing his easiest chance of the match.

Parkinson said: “He is snatching at things to a certain degree. There was nothing wrong with his all-round effort.

“He put in a good shift for the team but strikers thrive on goals and he hasn’t scored his first for us yet, so he is frustrated.

“The only way is to work hard on the training ground and make sure we give him as much as possible to do in and around the penalty box.”

Bradford City: McLaughlin, Darby, McArdle, Davies (Bates 36), McHugh, Thompson (Yeates 80), Doyle, Jones, Reach, Hanson, Mclean (Gray 80). Unused substitutes: Jameson, Dolan, Atkinson, Bennett.

Stevenage: Day, Obeng, Ashton, Dembele, Hartley (Deacon 46) (Mousinho 90), Freeman, Smith, Doughty (Wedgbury 90), Akins, Zoko, Charles. Unused substitutes: Arnold, Jones, Burrow, Parrett.

Referee: C Sarginson (Staffs).

Man of the match: Adam Reach.