The Bantams fell to defeat at the hands of Peterborough United to hand Graham Westley a dream start to life as manager of the club. The first half was a relatively even contest and although City started the second half on the front foot, Peterborough scored twice in a minute in the second half to claim a victory. Lee Angol scored the opener, scoring a follow up from close range after Marcus Maddison’s initial effort was kept out by Brad Jones. City barely had time to lick their wounds when Chris Forrester scored the second; Souleymane Coulibaly’s attempt deflected into the path of Forrester and he made no mistake from 6 yards out.
The game started at a slow pace which suited the visitors and they were certainly having the better of the opening chance with Marcus Maddison in particular looking lively. He fired a couple of shot from outside the area wide of the target before Souleymane Coulibaly - a one time Tottenham Hotspur forward - curled just wide of the top corner after cutting inside from the left and getting the better of Gary Liddle.
Paul Anderson looked one of City’s livelier players in the opening exchanges but unfortunately he was left in a heap on the pitch after coming out worse in a challenge with United’s Michael Bostwick. After the stretcher was brought onto the pitch, the one encouraging sign was at least he was able to hobble of the pitch rather than be carried off.
Michael Smith, coming forward from right back, tried a shot from outside the area and it took a deflection off James Meredith making it an awkward one for Brad Jones but fortunately the Australian stopper held onto it alertly.
James Hanson had most probably City’s best chance of the first half just before the interval, but after he’d connected with Mark Marshall’s cross, his headed attempt was held onto at full stretch by Ben Alnwick.
Steven Davies, who was brought on to replace Paul Anderson in right midfield, had what ultimately proved to be City’s best chance of the game in its entirety. Lee Evans delivered a superb corner into the area and Davies’ header came back off the post before being cleared by Coulibaly, Alnwick may have got a touch on the ball but that’s yet to be seen.
Despite a positive start to the second half, City fell behind in the 56th minute to Lee Angol’s strike. The frontman who spent the whole of last season in non-league with Boreham Wood last season continued his fine start to the season in front of goal for United with his 3rd in 4 games. Coulibaly centred for Maddison to force Jones into a save low down and Angol was the quickest to react and put the visitors ahead.
Almost straight from the restart, Westley’s men doubled their advantage to confirm their stronghold on the game. Coulibaly again at the heart of things, he showed great feet to find a yard for a shot in the area, his attempt deflected across the area and into the path of Chris Forrester who tucked home the goal.
Davies saw an attempted lob go over the bar after he spotted Alnwick off his line, this had come from Devante Cole forcing him into a hurried clearance after he’d chased down his own flick on to cause problems for centre half pair Gabriel Zakuani and Ricardo Almeida Santos.
City missed a couple of gilt edged chances with just under 20 minutes remaining to leave themselves frustrated. First Davies failed to make a clean connection with Billy Knott’s centre when he had a bit of space in the 18 yard box and the Cole headed upwards rather than towards goal after Evans had put yet another delivery right on the money.
United looked a growing threat on the counter attack with City pushing to get back into the game, but it wasn’t to be for the hosts who couldn’t break down a resilient Peterborough defence.
In an injury time period which ended up spanning nine minutes, Davies and Hanson had aerial half chances but just couldn’t get anything from them. A frustrating defeat for the Bantams, but a chance to respond quickly with a midweek trip to Colchester United to look ahead to.