Bradford earn first victory for new manager Bowyer

Posted Sunday, March 10, 2019 by PA

Three goals in 16 second-half minutes gave Gary Bowyer his first win as Bradford manager as the relegation-threatened Bantams enjoyed their first win in six matches by a 3-1 score against Peterborough at Valley Parade.

The former Blackburn and Blackpool boss took over at Bradford on Monday, succeeding David Hopkin, who resigned the week before.

The result leaves Bradford next to the bottom but now only four points from safety.

It was an evenly fought game of few chances before Jacob Butterfield broke the deadlock in the 70th minute, taking a short pass on the right from Lewis O’Brien before scoring with a low left-foot shot from the edge of the penalty box in the bottom right-hand corner.

It was Butterfield’s first goal for his hometown club, who he joined from Derby on transfer deadline day.

Leading scorer Eoin Doyle netted the second in the 83rd minute in a move involving Hope Akpan and David Ball.

Ball played the ball into Doyle’s path and he worked his way into space before his left-foot shot from just inside the box gave him his 10th goal of the season.

O’Brien added Bradford’s third with a close-range shot in the 86th minute after Doyle laid the ball into his path.

Peterborough scored a consolation goal from the penalty spot two minutes later through Marcus Maddison after he had been fouled by Paul Caddis.