Bradford City 3 Bristol Rovers 1: Charlie Wyke star of show with treble in front of Sky Sports cameras
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The Middlesbrough-born striker took full advantage of a Bristol Rovers’ side who displayed a total inability to deal with high balls into their own penalty area throughout a one-sided contest.
His opener on 14 minutes came via a Romain Vincelot flick-on from a Tony McMahon corner that Wyke volleyed in at the back post.
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Hide AdThe Bantams forward doubled the home side’s lead just after the hour, a corner again proving Rovers’ undoing as the Middlesbrough-born striker rose highest to head in from six yards out.
Jake Reeves created the third with a left wing cross that Wyke nodded in from close range to claim his first hat-trick since November last year, when he helped Carlisle United thrash Mansfield Town 5-2 at Brunton Park.
Billy Bodin pulled one back for the visitors nine minutes from time after tapping in the rebound but there was never going to be a repeat of last week, when City threw away a three-goal lead at Walsall to leave with just a point.
Richard Sutcliffe's Analysis: City benefit from Rovers' sloppy defending
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Hide AdAll eyes were on the City defence after the debacle that had been last weekend’s second half at Walsall, when a three-goal lead was wiped out by near identical moves involving a wide ball into the area and unmarked header.
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It was, however, Bristol Rovers who struggled all afternoon to deal with good delivery from out wide.
The opening 24 minutes brought no less than three gilt-edged chances for the Bantams against a defence missing Ryan Sweeney and Tom Lockyer on international duty.
Charlie Wyke netted from one of those opportunities with a back post volley but Nicky Law and Romain Vincelot were guilty of squandering their own openings. Wyke then headed in twice from close range.
At the other end, Bradford - without new signing Adam Thompson, away with Northern Ireland - were much more solid with Nathaniel Knight-Percival in imposing form at the back.