Burton Albion 3 Bradford City 1: Brewers prove far too potent for Bantams

Bradford City manager Phil Parkinson. Picture: James Hardisty.

Bradford chief Phil Parkinson admitted his side were second best after their defeat to table-toppers Burton Albion.

The Bantams’ League One play-off chances were dented as the leaders put three past them at the Pirelli Stadium.

Mason Bennett and Mark Duffy were on target for the Brewers either side of goalkeeper Ben Williams’s own goal before Rory McArdle headed home late on.

“We have to accept we were second best. We were second best all over the pitch,” reflected the disappointed Bantams chief.

“We started poorly and got punished for it. We need players to play well right at the top of the game when you come to a team which is top of the league.”

Former Bradford loanee Bennett opened the scoring with his effort deflecting off defender McArdle.

Leading goal-scorer James Hanson missed the best chance to bring the visitors level. The 28-year-old latched onto Christopher Routis’s through-ball only to strike wide.

The Bantams’ stopper produced a sublime save to tip Tom Naylor’s powerful shot onto the bar only for the ball to bounce into the net off his back.

Four minutes later, Duffy put the game to bed with a tap-in from close range. McArdle glanced home Tony McMahon’s corner in stoppage-time.

Parkinson will be boosted for the trip to Peterborough with the returns of Reece Burke and Lee Evans from an injury and suspension, respectively.

Burton Albion: McLaughlin, Edwards, Mousinho, Cansdell-Sherriff, McCrory, Akins, Weir, Naylor, Bennett (Butcher 68), Duffy (Reilly 81), Beavon (Flanagan 88). Unused substitutes: Myers-Harness, O’Connor, Thiele, Bywater.

Bradford City: Williams, Darby, McArdle, N Clarke, Leigh (Meredith 81), Routis (Marshall 45), McMahon, Knott, Morris, Hanson, Proctor (Thomas 46). Unused substitutes: Burke, Reid, Davies, Cracknell.

Referee: N Kinseley (Essex).

Man of the match: Mason Bennett.