Torquay United 1 Bradford City 2: Parkinson delighted as Fagan and Reid strike to get City back on track

The Bantams, without injured top scorer James Hanson, recorded their first victory in seven games after a spirited comeback at Plainmoor.

The win ended their hosts’ impressive seven-game unbeaten run and Parkinson said: “You had that feeling that something could happen every time we got our wide players on the ball.

“We looked at the make-up of their team and felt that our set-up could hurt them.

“I was delighted with the performance. We were up against the form team in the country and I thought we put in a really strong display.”

Parkinson added: “We’re slowly getting out players back to full fitness, which is great going forward. If we’ve got our best 11 players on the pitch then I definitely think we’re a match for any team in the division.”

The Bantams, who fielded an attacking 4-3-3 formation as their hosts played a man in front of the back four and had just one striker, found themselves behind after just 12 minutes.

Midfield player Danny Stevens gave the hosts the lead with a clinical strike.

But, within five minutes, the visitors were level thanks to some smart work from man-of-the-match Kyel Reid.

Reid picked out Chris Fagan with a pinpoint cross and his fellow midfielder made no mistake in finding the back of the net from close range.

Then scorer Fagan turned provider, picking out Reid, who, three minutes later, smashed in a goal which proved enough to give them the double over Torquay, who lost 1-0 at Valley Parade in October.

Torquay United: Olejnik; Oastler, Saah, Ellis, Nicholson; Morris; McPhee (Yeoman 77), Mansell, O’Kane, Stevens; Atieno (Howe 59).

Unused substitutes: Duke, Kozluk.

Bradford City: McLaughlin, Ramsden, Oliver, Davies, Seip; Flynn, Jones, Ravenhill; Smalley (Syers 76), Reid (Atkinson 90), Fagan (Wells 85). Unused substitutes: Rowe-Turner, MacDonald.

Referee: P Miller (Beds).

Man of the match: Kyel Reid.