Adam Baker reports from Ashton Gate
Bradford City are fast becoming City's bogey team after they shocked Ashton Gate with a 3-2 away win.
Goals from Billy Paynter, Moses Ashikodi and Steven Schumacher extended Bradford's dominance in this fixture to eights game without a defeat.
City, who had taken an early lead through Phil Jevons' 17th goal of the season, last defeated Bradford back in February 1996 - in front of just 5,400 fans at Ashton Gate.
Over eleven years later, with the two teams still in the same tier of English football, it was the majority of a 13,201 crowd that left City's home disappointed.
Alex Russell's last-gasp strike wasn't enough to prevent City from slipping to defeat. Gary Johnson's side remain four points clear of the chasing play-off pack, but still six points behind leaders Scunthorpe - with no more games in hand.
Adriano Basso was tested after just five minutes as Marc Bridge-Wilkinson's low shot skipped up off the surface and forced the Brazilian into a parried save.
City responded with Jamie McCombe's headed attempt into the arms of Donovan Ricketts, before taking the lead out of nothing on 13 minutes.
From a wide angle Enoch Showunmi dashed into the the box before hooking the ball hopefully over Ricketts' head, and Jevons was in the right place to head home from a couple of inches out.
City grew in confidence and Brian Wilson should have doubled the home side's advantage when he was picked out by David Noble unmarked at the back post, only to guide the ball wide.
Showunmi, Noble and Jevons all flashed efforts wide from distance before Bradford got themselves back on level terms on the stroke of half-time - and the goal was a real cracker.
With a half-volley from more than 30 yards, Paynter stunned the Ashton Gate crowd into silence. Basso had hardly strayed from his line, but the vicious dip on the ball was the key to Bradford's equaliser.
And the Bantams were celebrating again four minutes after half-time as a swift break saw Joe Colbeck slide the ball across goal for Ashikodi to side foot in.
Things got worse still on 55 minutes as Schumacher's screaming attempt fooled Basso and he dropped the ball over the line, although Colbeck was on hand to make sure of a goal.
City never recovered from Bradford's eleven-minute three-goal blitz.
Susbtitute Andy Smith headed wide from close range and Bradley Orr fired wide, but City scored their second goal far too late to set-up a grandstand finish.
Russell's stunning left-foot strike from the edge of the box will be quickly forgotten on a disappointing night at Ashton Gate.
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Match Information Bristol City: Basso; Orr, McCombe, Fontaine (Carey 64); Betsy, Noble (Smith 58), Skuse, L.Johnson (Russell 73), Wilson; Jevons, Showunmi. Subs: McAllister, Thomas. Bradford City: Ricketts; Wetherall, Bower, Youga; Colbeck, Bridge-Wilkinson, Bentham, Schumacher, Parker; Paynter (Ainge 90), Ashikodi (E.Johnson 73). Subs: Howarth, Daley, Barrau. Goals: Bristol City - Jevons 13, Russell 90; Bradford City - Paynter 44, Ashikodi 49, Schumacher 55. Bookings: Bristol City - Noble (10, foul); Bradford City - Bentham (42, foul), Ashikodi (42, dissent), Colbeck (49, over-celebrating). Referee: Mr N Swarbrick. Match Statistics |
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Bristol City |
Stat Attack |
Bradford City |
|
6 |
Shots On Target |
8 |
|
14 |
Shots Off Target |
1 |
|
2 |
Offsides |
0 |
|
9 |
Corners |
0 |
|
10 |
Free Kicks |
12 |
