ALL WYKE ON THE NIGHT FOR BANTAMS
BRADFORD CITY left it late to turn it around at home to Swindon Town as Charlie Wyke’s late double ensured a much-needed three points for Stuart McCall’s side.
Nicky Ajose’s strike with 15 minutes to go put Bradford’s home unbeaten record in jeopardy, but Wyke’s header in the 85th minute followed by a tap-in during stoppage time saw the game turned on its head and left McCall delighted.
“The desire of the players and the backing of the crowd was huge for us in getting a great result today so it’s happy days all round,” he said.
“We were deflated by their goal but the crowd got us back up so a big thank you to them because it helped us get what we deserved in the end.”
It looked like it was going to be the same old story for the hosts. Bradford had drawn four of their previous five home matches and despite facing a side deep in the relegation zone, chances came and went, Rory McArdle guilty of heading over inside the first minute.
Wyke hit the post from a header before Nathaniel Knight-Percival was the next to send a headed effort towards goal, the centre-back denied by the recalled Lawrence Vigouroux. It was all set up for the sucker punch but it never looked like arriving until Jonathan Obika played in Ajose and the striker sent his low effort past Colin Doyle.
The chances still kept coming for City and Wyke went close to levelling with a glancing header after he had been picked out by Clarke’s cross, and then Jones volleyed into the ground to result in an easy claim for Vigouroux.
At the other end Colkett, who had played his part in Swindon’s goal, went close to doubling his side’s lead with a looping header.
As the home crowd grew restless, Wyke finally brought the Bantams back into it, heading home yet another cross into the box and setting up a grandstand finale.
Then as the game moved into stoppage time, Mark Marshall’s low ball in was scuffed by substitute Alex Jones, which left Wyke all alone to smash home from all of two yards, sending Valley Parade wild.
Wyke has scored six goals in ten matches since joining Bradford on January transfer deadline day in a £250,000 deal from Carlisle.
“Even if he hadn’t scored his all-round performance was excellent, it was a real centre-forward’s performance,” said McCall. “We went three up top today and got a lot of balls in the box towards Charlie. It’s a big win for us and great for him.”
Swindon boss Luke Williams was left to rue Swindon Town’s lack of match craft after their fourth defeat on the trot.
“The effort was there but unfortunately the know-how is not,” said Williams. “We only need to make the game a non-event for 15 minutes. In reality, if you manage it correctly, the ball is probably in play for seven minutes of the 15. Instead, we play stupid and naïve and it’s too big for us.”