Bradford City 2 (Thompson 18, Jones 35)
Manchester City U21s 1 (Matondo 57)
Tuesday 24th October 2017 | Checkatrade Trophy | Northern Commercials Stadium
The Bantams recorded a victory against a young Manchester City side at the Northern Commercials Stadium to ensure progression to the knockout stages of the Checkatrade Trophy for the second season in a row thanks to goals from Adam Thompson and Alex Jones.
City were quick out of the traps playing at a real high intensity and after latching onto a cross from the lively Tyrell Robinson, Shay McCartan saw a close range effort kept out brilliantly by the visiting goalkeeper Arijanet Muric.
Just a few minutes later Muric was once again on hand to deny McCartan after this time latching onto Jordan Gibson's cross; the latter one of City's star perfomers on a positive evening.
The opening goal was coming and it did come through Adam Thompson who slotted in at centre back alongside stand-in skipper Nathaniel Knight-Percival. Robinson delivered a teaisng corner into the box and the Bury loanee defender powered a header past a helpless Muric.
Robinson himself saw a low shot saved by the Swiss keeper before Daniel Pybus had a hopeful attempt from distance dealt with comfortably by the Citizens' stopper.
Ten minutes before the break, Alex Jones doubled City's lead with a smart finish. Luke Hendrie drilled a low cross into the box from the right-hand side and the forward controlled the ball with his back to goal before turning and finding the bottom corner for his third goal in the Checkatrade Trophy this season.
The second half was started well by ther Bantams as they searched for more goals. Muric was the visitors' best player on a difficult evening for the Premier League youngsters and he denied Jones before Shay McCartan went close with a free kick.
Just before the hour, Man City halved the deficit. Rabbi Matondo ran through and rounded Lukas Raeder to score in an empty net and from then the visitors began to take control of large parts of the possession.
Jones came close to doubling his tally with a shot from distance which just cleared the crossbar after Knight-Percival had surged forward and picked him out with a pass.
Raeder had to be alert to pounce on a loose ball inside the area after the visitors looked to threaten and get themselves back on terms late on; the Bantams held on for a second victory out of two in the group to ensure progresssion.
Bradford City
Raeder, Hendrie, Thompson, Knight-Percival (c), Hanson, Gibson, Pybus, Devine, Robinson, McCartan, Jones
Substitutes:
Hudson for Hendrie (46)
Laird for Hanson (77)
Patrick for Gibson (83)
Unused Substitutes:
Sattelmaier, Reeves, Dieng, Hefele
Manchester City U21s
Muric, Duhaney, Oliver, Smith (c), Dele-Bashiru, Garre, Francis, Gonzalez, Richards, Wilson, Matondo
Substitutes:
Pozo for Gonzalez (76)
Unused Substitutes:
Sokol, Diallo, Kigbu, Ogunby
Yellow Cards: Francis, Richards, Pozo