BRADFORD CITY AFC

In front of a large and vocal visiting support, City suffered a nightmare start to the game, conceding after less than a minute through Michael O'Connor's thunderbolt, and it sadly didn't get any better for the Bantams.

Despite City enjoying the majority of the possession stakes in the first quarter of the match, former Bantam Gareth Evans doubled Rotherham's lead with a well-taken strike past Matt Duke before the half hour mark.

The impressive Ben Pringle then continued Rotherham's fine exhibition of finishing when he strode forward unopposed towards the edge of City's area before curling a delightful effort in off the post.

A shell-shocked City tried to rally in the second period but with the Bantams firmly up against it after the events of the first period, it always looked a long shot for Parkinson's men to get back in the game.

To further rub salt into City's wounds, there was still time in the match for Evans to snatch his second of the game four minutes before the end of normal time to complete a frustrating and thoroughly miserable afternoon at the office for the Bantams.

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MATCH UPDATES:

90min: There will be three minutes added on at the end of the game.

85min: Hanson rises to connect with McArdle's swinging cross but his header flies over the bar.

84min: SUB - Rotherham's second substitution of the afternoon sees O'Connor taken off for Jason Taylor.

80min: After a half-cleared Rotherham corner falls into his path, O'Connor forces Duke into a smart save with a looping effort on the half-volley from just outside the area.

79min: Connell leads a City counter-attack forward but the striker's eventual attempt on goal from just outside the area curls straight into Shearer's clutches.

77min: Connell shows some nice footwork to get himself into shooting space when a City free-kick falls into his path around ten yards out. The striker's eventual shot is weak, however, and the ball rolls tamely into Shearer's hands.

76min: SUB - Rotherham make their first change of the afternoon by bringing on Alex Revell for Nardiello.

75min: Hanson's snap shot on the half volley from just outside the area goes wide of Shearer's near post.

75min: SUB - Alan Connell is brought on for Wells.

71min: Hanson's flick on just outside the area allows Wells to turn dangerously into a bit of space. The Bermudian goes to connect for a strike on goal around the penalty spot but his connection is loose and Rotherham can eventually clear.

70min: SUB - City bring on Garry Thompson for Doyle.

66min: Big chance for Rotherham to grab a fourth when Nardiello wriggles free of Oliver inside City's area. Nardiello's near post shot is pushed out by Duke as far as the waiting Evans, who blasts over from around the penalty spot.

60min: An unmarked James Hanson stretches to reach Reid's inswinging centre but the giant striker narrowly misses out on connecting with the ball as it flashes across goal.

57min: Duke saves with his legs to prevent Sharps little flick for goal from sneaking in following Laurence Wilson's far post cross.

56min: Gary Jones has to head off his own line to clear Kayode Odejayi's goalbound header after Ian Sharps had put Pringle's hanging corner back across goal.

54min: YELLOW CARD - Evans is booked for bringing down Reid with a loose tackle by the touchline just inside Rotherham's own half.

48min: Reid lets rip with a fizzing effort from distance that whistles past a rooted Shearer before flying narrowly past the keeper's near post.

46min: SUB - City bring on Will Atkinson for Hines before the restart.

45+2min: YELLOW CARDS - City collect their third booking of the afternoon when Hines is penalised for bringing down O'Connor just inside Rotherham's own penalty area.

45min: There will be three minutes added on at the end of the first half.

43min: GOA.....no! City think they have a way back into the match when Wells fires home on the rebound after Shearer had parried an effort from Reid. The celebrations are shorted lived, however, as the Bermudian is flagged offside.

42min: O'Connor's resulting free-kick misses everyone before flashing across goal and out at the far end for a City goal-kick.

41min: YELLOW CARD - Rory McArdle is booked for a lunging tackle on Pringle just outside City's area and near the byline.

32min: Nardiello stretches to met Pringle's far post corner but he can't get a good enough connection on the ball and he header sails harmlessly wide.

31min: YELLOW CARD - Nathan Doyle is booked for bringing down Nardiello just inside City's own half as the hosts attempted to spring forward on the counter-attack.

30min: City nearly find a way back into the game when Kyel Reid's inswinging cross beats the outstretched hand of Shearer before striking the crossbar.

29min: Daniel Nardiello turns into space from a wide position but his angled drive from outside the area is straight into Duke's clutches.

21min: Nahki Wells bursts forward into space deep into Rotherham territory but his strike from an angle just inside the area goes a yard or so over Shearer's bar.

20min: Despite City enjoying most of the play in the first twenty minutes, Rotherham are the side next to have a meaningful attempt on goal. After Andrew Davies heads clear a Rotherham clip into City's area, former Bantam Gareth Evans picks up the ball but his first time volley from just outside the area goes over.

3min: Up for a City free-kick, Luke Oliver forces a smart save from Scott Shearer low to his right with a side-footed effort from the defender.

1min: GOAL - Rotherham United 1 Bradford City 0 - Nightmare start for City as Michael O'Connor fires Rotherham into the lead within the first minute thanks to a fierce drive from all of 25 yards out.

1min: Almost straight from the kick-off, Zavon Hines fires a cross-come-shot over from an angle while wide on City's right flank.

0min: The Bantams kick off. City will defend the end that houses their vocal 2,200+ support in the first period.

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ROTHERHAM LINE UP
Shearer, Bradley, Arnason, Sharps, Wilson, Noble, O'Connor, Pringle, Evans, Odejayi, Nardiello

Subs: Warrington, Mullins, Ainsworth, Taylor, Revell, Agard, Denton

Rotherham changes
Revell for Nardiello (76), Taylor for O'Connor (84)

Rotherham cautions
Evans (54)

Rotherham dismissals

BRADFORD LINE UP
Duke, McArdle, Meredith, Davies, Oliver, Doyle, G Jones, Hines, Reid, Wells, Hanson

Subs: McLaughlin, Darby, Hannah, Thompson, Atkinson, McHugh, Connell

Atkinson for Hines (46), Thompson for Doyle (70), Connell for Wells (75)

Bradford cautions
Doyle (31), McArdle (41), Hines (45+2)

Bradford dismissals