BRADFORD CITY AFC

Seven days on from a disappointing loss at Southend United, Stuart McCall's men were left with nothing to show for their efforts at the County Ground thanks to Anton Rodgers' superb free-kick winner for the hosts in the first half.

City dominated virtually all of the second period in an attempt to rescue something from the game, with James Hanson hitting the post late on, but they couldn't break through Swindon's defences.

Marc McNulty could have netted early on for City but the Scot fired wide after being found in space inside the box by Mark Marshall.

That chance aside though, it was Swindon who looked the more likely scorers in the opening exchanges.

Robins full back Darnell Furlong headed narrowly wide from a corner while Lloyd James and Nathan Delfouneso forced Colin Doyle into smart saves.

There was nothing Doyle could do about Rodgers' twentieth-minute opener though, the midfielder - son of Celtic manager, Brendan - firing in a stunning free-kick into the top corner from over twenty-five yards out.

Swindon full-back Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill looked to try and double the hosts' lead minutes later but his low angled drive from inside the area was pushed around the post by Doyle.

As the opening half progressed, City eventually recovered from the blow of going behind and they twice could have levelled through Hanson shortly before the break.

Hanson's first chance came following a fine run into the box from Nathaniel Knight-Percival. The centre half squared the ball to Hanson in a decent position in the area after darting past three Swindon players but the striker could only fire over.

Hanson found the ball at his feet in a similar position on the verge of the interval following Marshall's low cross, with City's number nine this time firing straight at Robins shot-stopper Lawrence Vigouroux.

From the very off following the restart McCall's men controlled the flow of the game and continuously pressed the hosts back into their own half.

Despite City's dominance of the ball though, Swindon could have extended their lead midway through the second period when Delfouneso headed wide from close range following Furlong's cross to the far post.

Haris Vuckic and Filipe Morais were introduced later in the half in an attempt to improve City's chances in the game but Doyle was forced into a smart save at the other end to deny Jon Obika.

With eight minutes of normal time to go, City thought they had deservedly levelled when Hanson connected with Morais' cross but the header hit the inside of the post and bounced away with Vigouroux beaten.

Hanson then forced Vigouroux into a decent save following a downward header from another Morais cross. The striker also headed narrowly wide from a Nicky Law corner in the ninenieth minute.

Shortly before that Hanson chance though, Obika did have an opportunity to seal it for Swindon but he fired over from yards out after Luke Norris' blocked shot had spun into his path.

Six minutes of injury time saw City lay siege to the Swindon goal. Doyle even came up for a late free-kick and corner but City couldn't make their pressure count and the Robins hung on for all three points.

90+5min: Doyle comes up for a late City free-kick into the box. City win a corner from the free-kick but the pressure is over for the hosts when Vincelot heads wide from the resulting delivery.

90min: There will be six minutes of time added on at the end of the match.

90min: Hanson's downward header from Law's corner delivery towards the far post goes narrowly wide. City claim Vigouroux got a touch on the ball but a goal-kick is given.

88min: Norris' blocked shot drops kindly into the path of Obika but the striker fires over from deep inside the box as Doyle comes out to close down the angle.

87min: Hanson's downward header from Morais' cross is held by Vigouroux low to his right.

85min: Vuckic shoots for goal after receiving the ball from Hiwula but his effort from the edge of the box goes over.

85min: YELLOW CARD - Doughty is booked for bringing down Cullen around the halfway line after the City midfielder had won possession.

84min: Vuckic's cross into the box is headed forward by Hiwula but Vigouroux is just able to gather up the ball ahead of the lurking Vincelot.

83min: Doughty looks to play Goddard through on goal from a Swindon break forward but Vincelot is around on the cover to block out the danger.

82min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Jordy Hiwula for Darby.

82min: Hanson hits the post! Morais' cross into the box is met by the striker but his header agonisingly hits the base of the post and bounces away.

81min: YELLOW CARD - Vincelot is booked for bringing down Obika following a bright break forward from the hosts.

78min: A driving run from Meredith sees the Australian surge into the box and play the ball across goal. Unfortunately for City though, there is none of Meredith's team-mates are on hand for a potential tap in and James kicks clear.

75min: Obika turns away from Vincelot before firing in a low strike from inside the box that is well saved by Doyle low to his left.

72min: Hanson sees a goal-bound header from a Law corner parried away by Vigouroux but a free-kick for a push by the City striker is awarded against the Bantams.

72min: SUB - Swindon bring on Luke Norris for Delfouneso.

71min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Filipe Morais for Marshall.

70min: Vuckic moves into shooting space around the edge of the area but his shot for goal is blocked away in the middle.

68min: Delfouneso misses a great opprtunity to put Swindon further ahead! Furlong's driven cross into the box picks out Delfouneso unmarked over by the far post but the striker heads wide from close range.

66min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Haris Vuckic for McNulty.

65min: Law's clipped ball into the box from a free-kick is headed across the box by Dieng. The ball is missed by a couple of Swindon defenders in the middle before James on the far side is able to clear.

64min: YELLOW CARD - Iandolo is booked for pulling back Law as the City midfielder travelled forward at pace deep into Swindon territory.

63min: Obika has the ball in the net after going through on goal but the flag had already gone up in plenty of time to catch the striker offside.

60min: Dieng is able to carry on after a spot on the floor following a clash of heads as City defend a Swindon corner.

57min: Meredith is down following a clash of heads just inside City's half of the pitch. Following a brief period to collect himself though, the defender is back on his feet and able to continue.

54min: Meredith's cross into the box finds Cullen in a pocket of space, the midfielder connects sweetly with the ball but his effort is straight at Vigouroux 

50min: Knight-Percival looks for a second like he has an opportunity to connect with Law's corner delivery from a decent position inside the area. With Knight-Percival under a spot of pressure though, ball eventually seems to come off the defender's shoulder and the ball bounces out.

50min: SUB - Ormonde-Ottewill is indeed replaced by Swindon, Tom Smith introduced into the action in his place.

49min: Play continues with Swindon temporarily down to ten men - it seems Ormonde-Ottewill will be replaced.

47min: There is a brief break in play at the moment as Ormonde-Ottewill is down receiving treatment after going down following at City free-kick.

47min: Law's free-kick into the box from wide is sent goalwards by Hanson but the downward header is comfortably gathered up on the bounce by Vigouroux.

46min: The Bantams restart the match.

HT SUB - Swindon bring Ellis Iandolo for James Brophy just ahead of the restart.

45+1min: Marshall's low cross into the box eventually finds its way through to Hanson but the striker's low effort from a good place inside the box is hit straight at Vigouroux.

45min: There will be one minute of time added on at the end of the first half.

39min: A brilliant run from Knight-Percival eventually sees the defender surging into the box. The defender plays the ball low into the middle towards Hanson but the striker's first time effort on his favoured left foot flashes over from a decent position.

36min: Marshall runs at Ormonde-Ottewill before firing in a fizzing cross-come-shot that whistles over Vigouroux's bar.

29min: Obika bursts forward into space down Swindon's left wing on a quick attack forward for the hosts. The striker has options in the middle but elects to shoot for goal and the effort is blocked by Romain Vincelot.

26min: Goddard's hanging corner delivery is fumbled by Doyle but Law is able to hack clear.

25min: Doughty picks out the run of Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill into the area with a well-placed pass. The Swindon full back fires low towards the far bottom corner but the angled effort is tipped around the post by Doyle.

24min: Doughty moves to the edge of City's penalty area with the ball at his feet, the midfielder goes for goal but his rising effort sails comfortably over the bar.

18min: YELLOW CARD - Knight-Percival is booked for blocking off Jon Obika just inside City's half of the pitch after Stephen Darby's loose pass had given the striker the opportunity to run into space.

17min: Doyle escapes a brief scare after Delfouneso closes him down inside City territory. With the Bantams pushed up in Swindon's half of the pitch, Doyle brings the ball out of his area at his feet. Doyle takes his time to kick forward, giving Delfouneso the chance to close him down. The striker looks set to rob the ball off Doyle but the Bantams 'keeper somehow gets away with it and retains possession.

14min: Doyle is forced into a smart save after Jones had connected with a powerful header from a Swindon corner. Hanson lashes the loose ball clear from right in front of his own goal but only as far as Raphael Rossi-Branco around the edge of the area. Branco fires for goal first time but Doyle is able to watch the low effort go past his post.

13min: The ball is fed wide to Nathan Delfouneso, the attacker goes for goal from just inside the area and his low curling shot towards the far bottom corner is pushed around the post by Doyle.

12min: McNulty tries an ambitious effort for goal from all of 35 yards out after the ball bounces kindly into his path but the effort on the half-volley sails some distance wide of Lawrence Vigouroux's goal.

12min: James tees the ball back to Michael Doughty but the midfielder's drive from just outside the box goes over.

11min: The ball breaks free to Goddard inside Swindon's box, the attacker looks to turn into shooting space but his eventual effort is blocked by Nathaniel Knight-Percival.

9min: Marc McNulty squanders a promising opening for the Bantams. Josh Cullen's well-placed pass plays Marshall into plenty of space down City's left flank. Marshall motors towards Swindon's penalty area before squaring across the box to McNulty in space. The Scottish striker looks to set himself up for a shooting opportunity but his first touch isn't the greatest and he ends up firing wide while under pressure from Furlong and Lloyd James.

5min: Latching onto a headed flick-on from James Hanson, Mark Marshall cuts inside onto his left foot before firing in a shot from the edge of the area that deflects up off Michael Doughty and over the bar for a City corner.

3min: Swindon threaten early doors through full back Darnell Furlong. The defender rises unmarked to meet Johnny Goddard's corner delivery but his glancing header drops narrowly wide of Colin Doyle's far post.

0min: Swindon kick off the match.

SWINDON TOWN LINE UP:

Vigouroux, Furlong, Branco, Jones, Ormonde-Ottewill, Brophy, Rodgers, Goddard, Doughty, Delfouneso, Obika

Subs: Henry, Iandolo, Smith, Evans, Murray, Norris, Young

Swindon Town substitutions:
Iandolo for Brophy (46), Smith for Ormonde-Ottewill (50), Norris for Delfouneso (72)

Swindon Town cautions:
Iandolo (64), Doughty (85)

BRADFORD CITY LINE UP:

Doyle, Darby, Vincelot, Knight-Percival, Meredith, Marshall, Cullen, Dieng, Law, McNulty, Hanson

Subs: Sattelmaier, Hiwula, Vuckic, Morais, McArdle, Devine, Kilgallon

Vuckic for McNulty (66), Morais for Marshall (71), Hiwula for Darby (82)

Knight-Percival (18), Vincelot (81)