Bradford City 0 Fleetwood Town 3: Familiar faces return to inflict misery on Bantams
Fleetwood’s win –their first at Valley Parade – ended Bradford’s six match unbeaten run that had lifted them into third place. All the goals came in a 19 minute spell in the second half.
After a dour first period, Fleetwood shook the Bantams by going in front in the 51st minute following a mistake by Bradford skipper Romain Vincelot.
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Hide AdThe goal was scored by Hiwula, who was Bradford’s leading scorer last season during a season long loan from Huddersfield Town – he is now on loan at Fleetwood. Cole, who joined Fleetwood from Bradford two seasons ago, intercepted Vincelot’s pass before delivering a through pass for Hiwula to score.
The visitors scored a second three minutes later after keeper Colin Doyle was booked for bringing Cole on the edge of the penalty area. Kyle Dempsey’s free kick rebounded off the defensive wall, but he retrieved the ball to cross for Cole to score with a close range shot.
Ashley Hunter then put the result beyond doubt with a third goal in the 70th minute two minutes after coming on a substitute. He took a pass from Cole in Fleetwood counter attack before scoring with a shot into the far top corner.
Bradford had lots of possession, but could not find a way through a strong Fleetwood defence that had conceded four goals at home to Southend last Saturday.
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Hide AdBradford City: Doyle, McMahon, Knight-Percival, Kilgallon, Chicksen (Poleon 80), Gillead, Vincelot, Reeves, Law, Jones (Wyke 56), Patrick (Taylor 56). Unused subs: Raeder (gk), Thompson, Field, Hendrie.
Fleetwood Town: Cairns, Coyle, Bell, Eastham, Pond, Dempsey, Grant, Bolger, Glendon (Sowerby 80), Cole (Burns 84), Hiwula (Hunter 68). Unused subs: Neal (gk), Rodgrs, Ekpolo, Schwabl.
Referee: Graham Salisbury