Swindon 2 Bradford 1: City lose out to Luongo double

A double by Massimo Luongo did the damage in a poor first half for Bradford, but Billy Clarke pulled one back soon after the break in a much-improved second period.

The Bantams’ plan to frustrate the hosts suffered an early setback, as Luongo took the ball on and struck confidently into the bottom corner from just outside the box.

Swindon got their second just after the half-hour mark, and it was Luongo on target again as he stabbed home from 15 yards.

The Bantams came out fighting in the second period and quickly halved the deficit, as Swindon gave the ball away. Jon Stead squared across the box towards Clarke, who dispatched his eighth of the season after a defensive mistake by Nathan Thompson.

Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford put in another strong performance and had to be at his best to deny Luongo his hat-trick, pushing a powerful effort over the bar.

The visitors were refused a strong shout for a penalty as the ball seemed to strike Ben Gladwin on the arm inside the box.

But the home side were defiant and held firm, as Bradford slipped to their first defeat since January 17.

Swindon: Foderingham, Branco, Thompson, Turnbull, Byrne, Luongo, Stephens, Thompson, Gladwin (Toffolo, 92), Williams, Smith. Unused substitutes: Kasim, Hylton, Obika, Swift, Belford, Barthram.

Bradford: Pickford, Darby, McArdle, MacKenzie, Meredith (Sheehan, 45), Burke (Yeates, 75), Liddle, Knott, Halliday, Clarke, Stead (Zoko, 75). Unused substitutes: Williams, Kennedy, Routis, Dolan.

Referee: C Berry (Surrey).