Newport County suffer 3-1 defeat to Bradford in League Two

The Exiles travelled to Valley Parade hunting a third win on the spin after home successes against Crewe and Salford.

They produced a performance that arguably merited a share of the spoils but that is unlikely to happen when a side ships three goals, which they cannot afford to repeat at Harrogate on Saturday if they are to avoid another pointless trip to Yorkshire.

Andy Cook scored for the fourth game on the spin against County to head the Bantams into the lead in the 39th minute.

The Exiles started the second half well and after failing to take their chances finally struck in the 65th minute when towering striker Kyle Hudlin nodded in from Kieron Evans’ cross.

Nelson Jardim’s side were deservedly back on level terms but fell behind again with quarter of an hour to go when Jamie Walker slotted, then Bobby Pointon wrapped up the win with six to go.

There were some positives from the display but the Exiles will have to be tougher to crack and sharper at the other end when they head to Harrogate.

LIVELY: Bobby Kamwa on the run for County at Bradford (Image: Magi Haroun/Huw Evans Agency)

County made just one change to the XI from the 3-1 win against Salford, and that was an enforced one.

Wales Under-21s duty meant that Matt Baker was absent and that meant a recall at centre-back for Ciaran Brennan, who had been an unused substitute against the Ammies after a three-match ban.

Fit-again James Clarke returned to the squad but head coach Jardim played it safe and named him on the bench.

Brennan was to the fore in the early exchanges as County dealt with some early balls into their box with the first effort an ambitious long-range effort from Richie Smallwood in the ninth minute that never threatened Nick Townsend’s goal.

That was swiftly followed by a big opportunity in the box for the Exiles but Hudlin’s shot, after Bobby Kamwa had caused problems, was blocked at close range by Jack Shepherd.

Dangerman Cook had his first sniff of goal after 18 minutes when Jay Benn whipped in a cross from the right but the striker couldn’t get the power to seriously trouble Townsend after heading into the ground.

Anthony Glennon was booked in the 20th minute for a foul on Clarke Odour that will force Jardim into a change for Harrogate due to suspension.

He was swiftly followed into the book by goalkeeper Nick Townsend for taking too long over a goal-kick but County would have been content at making it through the opening exchanges without any serious scares.

That changed in the 30th minute when it took alert defending by Kyle Jameson to block from Odour in the box, and just seconds later there was a big chance at the other end.

Kamwa whipped in a beauty of a cross from the left that eluded both goalkeeper Sam Walker and Shepherd but captain Aaron Wildig – the man they would have wanted it to fall to – side-footed wide from a tight angle.

Townsend then got down well to his left to palm a curled effort from Jamie Walker behind when it was destined for the bottom corner.

However, the ‘keeper was beaten in the 39th minute when Bradford got in down the right and a dinked cross by Benn was headed towards goal by Cook, who had too much bulk for Noah Mawene.

Townsend got a slight touch at full stretch but it went in off the underside of the bar to ensure Bradford went into the break with a 1-0 lead.

A deep cross by Kieron Evans was headed towards goal by Kamwa soon after the restart but it was tame and easy for Walker and then Hudlin curled an effort narrowly wide with the ‘keeper beaten.

CHALLENGE: Noah Mawene climbs high for a header (Image: Mike Egerton)

It was a bright start to the half by County and a flicked (and difficult) header from Kieron Evans flew wide from a Glennon cross, then Cameron Evans missed the target with a header from Kamwa’s delivery.

He should have at least tested Walker, although there were some appeals for a penalty for contact by Shepherd.

However, it was level-pegging in the 65th minute when a terrific crossfield ball by Bryn Morris found Kieron Evans on the right and his left-footed cross was comprehensively headed in by Hudlin.

The Bantams looked to respond and Tyler Smith, fresh on the field, flashed a shot wide in the 70th minute.

Just as County were set to bring on Courtney Baker-Richardson, they fell behind again in the 75th minute when Pointon pulled the ball back and Jamie Walker scored from close to the penalty spot.

It was game over with five minutes to go when Benn crossed from the right and Pointon game Townsend no chance with a flicked finish after stealing a yard on substitute Cameron Antwi.

Bradford scorers: Cook, J Walker, Pointon.

County: Townsend, C Evans, Brennan, Jameson, Glennon, Morris, Mawene (Antwi 61), K Evans, Wildig, Kamwa (Spellman 85), Hudlin (Baker-Richardson 75).

Substitutes not used: Carney, Clarke, Greaves, Jephcott.

Yellow: Glennon, Townsend, Hudlin, Goal: Hudlin.