Bradford City 4 Bristol City 1

Last updated : 18 September 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Bradford City's on-loan recruit Neil Roberts impressed on his debut with a poacher's goal to help sink the in-form Robins.

The 26-year-old Wigan striker headed home the Bantams' second after 38 minutes and there was no way back for Brian Tinnion's side against his old club.

Bradford went into the game with the odds stacked against them, having lost three home games on the bounce, but the Robins' strike force failed to sparkle thanks largely to a commanding performance at the back by Bantams skipper David Wetherall.

Roberts, who was brought in to boost Bradford's numbers with Dean Windass and Lee Crooks suspended, showed his eagerness early on and was inches away from connecting with Wetherall's 12th minute header.

Robins hot-shot Leroy Lita was well-shackled by the Bradford defence, and the visitors were lucky to avoid going behind when Dele Adebola shot weakly at keeper Steve Phillips.

Adebola was soon celebrating after his lay-off set up midfielder Steven Schumacher, who registered his first league goal for Bradford with a low right -foot drive from 14 yards out.

Seven minutes before the break, the home side doubled their advantage when a Nicky Summerbee corner was deflected by player-boss Tinnion into Roberts' path and he pounced to head past Phillips from three yards.

The Robins went into the match on a run of three successive wins, but when skipper Tommy Doherty's 54th minute header clipped the bar they must have known it wasn't going to be their day.

Even Lita, who leads the League One scoring charts with seven goals, was having an off day and he wasted a glorious chance when Bradford keeper Paul Henderson blocked his 60th minute strike.

Within a minute Wetherall had wrapped up the game for the Bantams when he headed in another Summerbee corner from 14 yards.

Ten minutes from time another sweeping Bradford attack ended with Roberts heading Summerbee's cross against the bar, but Adebola was on hand to nod the rebound back into the empty net to register his first Bantams goal.

With the home side hoping to match the 5-0 drubbing they dished out to Bristol on their last visit in 1998, Robins winger Scott Murray gave their followers some consolation when he dribbled into the Bradford box and fired low past Henderson.