Swindon 4 Bradford 1: Penalty miss key as full-back sinks City

A SUBLIME hat-trick from Nathan Byrne saw the Bantams well beaten on the opening day of the new season.
Bradford City manager Phil Parkinson.Bradford City manager Phil Parkinson.
Bradford City manager Phil Parkinson.

The flying full-back bagged three goals in the space of 16 minutes for the home side as they hit back in style from a goal down to run out comfortable winners at the County Ground.

Josh Morris had given the visitors the perfect start with a fourth-minute opener as the Bantams led 1-0 at the break.

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The lead could have been doubled if Billy Clarke’s poor penalty had not been saved by alert goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux.

That spot-kick miss proved costly as the Robins hit back seven minutes after the restart thanks to Byrne’s brilliance.

The Tottenham Hotspur product curled a sweet shot past Ben Williams for the equaliser, before slotting home from close range just after the hour mark. It got even better seven minutes later when Byrne completed a memorable day after a stunning dribble which bemused the Bantams.

Striker Jon Obika then struck as Swindon made it four goals in 18 minutes.

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Bantams chief Phil Parkinson reflected: “The penalty was a key moment because it would have given us a little bit of breathing space.

“In the second half, we were second best all over the pitch but some of our football in the first half was great.

“The second half was like watching a different side in possession and Swindon gained confidence from that.”

Swindon Town: Vigouroux, Thompson, Turnbull, Branco, Ormonde-Ottewill, Kasim (Rodgers 82), Williams, Stewart, Hylton (Robert 11), Obika, Byrne (Randall-Hurren 87). Unused substitutes: Brophy, Marshall, Cooke, Belford.

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Bradford City: Williams, Darby, McArdle, Clarke, Meredith, McMahon, Routis, Morris (Marshall 76), Knott (Anderson 72), Hanson, Clarke (Davies 63). Unused substitutes: Sheehan, Liddle, Cracknell, James.

Referee: Steve Martin (Staffs).

Man of the match: Nathan Byrne.

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