Tranmere Rovers were defeated two goals to nil by Bradford City at Valley Parade on Good Friday.
Nigel Adkins made three changes to the starting eleven which faced Crawley last week as Dan Pike, Harvey Saunders and Tom Davies returned to start.
Rovers started well, winning a couple of corners within the first three minutes, the second of which Joe Yarney headed narrowly wide.
Tranmere had another solid chance inside seven minutes when the hosts inadvertently flicked the ball into the path of the onrushing Luke Norris, but the striker’s volley was just wide as well.
The hosts responded with some pressure of their own as the first half wore on, with Luke McGee and Lee O’Connor forced to make big blocks to keep the scores level.
Harvey Saunders almost put Rovers ahead five minutes short of the break with a clever backheel from a Dan Pike cross, but Sam Walker just about got to the bobbling effort.
McGee made another important stop as we approached the break, as Calum Kavanagh looped a header goalwards which the keeper managed to tip over the bar while running backwards, and ensure it was goalless at the break.
Saunders went close to breaking the deadlock again ten minutes into the second half, but was prevented by a big save from Walker before Davies nodded just over the bar from the resulting corner.
Moments later, Bradford thought they’d gone ahead through Tyler Smith, but the linesman had spotted an offside offence.
The hosts did go ahead 64 minutes into the game, Calum Kavanagh latching onto a ball from the Bradford left to knock it in from close range.
They doubled their lead five minutes later, Bobby Pointon netting from a similar position into the far corner.
McGee was forced into a point-blank save from Smith in the final ten minutes, before O’Connor slid in to clear off the line.
Despite some stoppage time pressure from Tranmere, Bradford held out for a two-goal victory.
Bradford City: Sam Walker, Brad Halliday, Matty Platt, Richie Smallwood (C), Jamie Walker (Clarke Oduor, 79), Calum Kavanagh, Tyler Smith (Harry Chapman, 90), Ciaran Kelly, Daniel Oyegoke, Bobby Pointon (Jonathan Tomkinson, 79), Lewis Richards.
Unused subs: Colin Doyle, Liam Ridehalgh, Tyriek Wright, Noah Wadsworth.
Tranmere Rovers: Luke McGee, Lee O’Connor, Tom Davies (C), Joe Yarney, Dan Pike (Chris Merrie, 76), Rob Apter (Sam Taylor, 65), Connor Jennings, Regan Hendry, Kieron Morris (Kristian Dennis, 85), Luke Norris, Harvey Saunders (Josh Hawkes, 76).
Unused subs: Joe Murphy, Paul Lewis, Jean Belehouan.
