Report: Bradford City’s quick start sinks Blackburn in cup

IT HAD been over 100 years since City's only winning visit to Ewood Park. You had to go back to 1921 for that sole success with Dickie Bond among the scorers in a 3-2 victory in the top division. But Graham Alexander's battlers proudly doubled that tally tonight to earn their place in the Carabao Cup second round.

Alexander had shuffled his resources to share out the early-season gametime among his squad. And once more, as has been evidenced in their two runs to the EFL Trophy semi-finals, his team delivered against an opponent from a higher level. That's six times now they have knocked off a side from the next division up - five of them away.

The only blot on the landscape was two defensive injuries - shades of Walsall away early last season. But don't take anything away from City's fighting qualities. Call them underdogs at your peril.

Blackburn knocked out the Bantams in the same competition at Valley Parade three seasons ago but the two sides had not met much in recent years. Prior to their last visit under Simon Grayson seven years ago, which Rovers won 2-0 on their way to League One promotion, City had not travelled to Ewood Park since New Year's Day 1990. Just under 3,300 fans had made the short journey in good spirits on the back of an encouraging start to life back in the third tier.

But many faced a race to get in before kick-off after a stray cow caused havoc by wandering onto the motorway near Littleborough. Police shut the junction for a while, forcing supporters to look for an alternative route, while they tried to shoo the offending animal away using brooms. Well, it did used to be called the Milk Cup!

Graham Alexander's attitude was typically pint half-full for their test against the Championship side. He made six changes from the previous league line-up - skipper Max Power was one of the four outfield survivors along with Joe Wright and wing-backs Josh Neufville and Ibou Touray. Aden Baldwin returned from suspension in a back three that also included a fit-again Ciaran Kelly.

Jenson Metcalfe made his City debut in central midfield, while the front three were all changed with Tyreik Wright and George Lapslie supporting striker Will Swan. City away fans in party mood after the two early goals (Image: Thomas Gadd) Blackburn, who changed eight from their curtain-raiser defeat at West Brom, had rejected a Derby bid for captain Lewis Travis earlier in the day but there was an agitated vibe about the home faithful fearing another regular would be on his way in a difficult summer.

City fans were in party mood ahead of kick-off - and in full carnival atmosphere after just four minutes of action as their team roared into a two-goal lead. Touray got the ball rolling with a thumping left-volley volley from Metcalfe's cross and it soon got better when Wright's pressing forced an error from Blackburn keeper Nicolas Michalski, who was left a helpless spectator in no man's land as Swan fired into an empty net. "Championship, you're having a laugh" taunted the City support as their team continued to look sharper all over the pitch.

Lapslie blocked a shot in his own box and then raced away on Sam Walker's quick throw to win a free-kick by the Blackburn corner flag. Igor Tyjon shanked Blackburn's first effort well wide but it was City still carrying the early threat. Rovers looked ill at ease every time the visitors got numbers forward.

Blackburn finally got their act going on 25 minutes but Walker produced a big right hand to palm away from Makhtar Gueye. They started to turn up the heat as Dion De Neve fired wide from inside the box. Then Gueye had another chance from a tight angle - only for Walker to frustrate him once more with his legs this time.

City had to show some defensive diligence with Touray and Power both winning important challenges on the edge of their box to fuel further home frustration. But there was an injury blow just before the break when Joe Wright was forced off with Curtis Tilt taking his place. And Blackburn put a different complexion on the half-time team talk by scoring in the fourth of six added minutes, De Neve holding off Neufville to blast past Walker as City failed to deal with Lewis Miller's long throw.

Swan had the chance to start the second half like the first but scuffed his effort on the turn, dragging it across goal. City were understandably spending more time camped in their own territory as Alexander made further changes on the hour, introducing Stephen Humphrys and Antoni Sarcevic for Tyreik Wright and Lapslie. #bcafc pic.twitter.com/kj6ge5dObX[1][2]

Kristi Montgomery fizzed one over from 25 yards but Humphrys had a great chance to give City some breathing space.

Swan picked a pocket before Sarcevic set up his fellow sub, who opted for a tame side-foot shot straight at Michalski. Blackburn had all five subs on for the final throw of the dice as they looked to create some proper pressure on the City goal. Walker had hardly been overworked since the break.

But the visitors suffered another knockback in defence when Kelly's comeback ended painfully with 10 minutes to go. Matty Pennington stepped up as they lost a second central defender. Walker then pulled a superb save to push Yuki Ohashi's header onto the bar before a nervy seven added minutes.

Todd Cantwell went down in the box but ref Anthony Backhouse was having none of it.

There was no way back for Blackburn as the home fans left in their droves before the final whistle cued more celebrations from those who had crossed the Pennines.

References

1. ^ #bcafc (twitter.com)
2. ^ pic.twitter.com/kj6ge5dObX (t.co)
3. ^ August 12, 2025 (twitter.com)