Bradford City 4 Barnet 2: Hanson at the double for Bantams

The Bantams striker netted either side of a Guy Branston headed goal to mark Colin Cooper’s first game as caretaker boss in style, especially as Nahki Wells added a fourth in stoppage time.

With City having drawn up a three-man shortlist – b lieved to be Phil Parkinson, Ady Boothroyd and John Coleman – following Peter Jackson’s decision to stand down, it was the perfect pick-me-up after a difficult couple of days at Valley Parade.

City took just four minutes of the second half to go in front when Guy Branston met Chris Mitchell’ s free-kick with a powerful header that gave Dean Brill in the Barnet goal no chance.

It was just the start Bradford needed and their afternoon got even better on 54 minutes when Mitchell again provided a cross that left the visitors defence flat-footed and Hanson drove a low shot into the net.

Wells, who had come off the bench with 15 minutes remaining, then rounded off a fine afternoon with a cool finish after Exodus Geohaghon had been caught in possession.

Izale McLeod then pulled a goal back in stoppage time but it couldn’t prevent City fans leaving at the final whistle with broad smiles on their faces.

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