Bradford boss Bowyer suffers miserable Blackpool reunion

Posted Sunday, March 24, 2019 by PA

Armand Gnanduillet scored twice as bottom-club Bradford’s League One survival hopes suffered a serious blow with a 4-1 home defeat by manager Gary Bowyer’s old club Blackpool.

Bowyer enjoyed a successful two-year spell at Blackpool, leading them to promotion from League Two before leaving one match into the current campaign.

Blackpool went in front after 24 minutes when 20-year-old on-loan Everton midfielder Antony Evans crossed from the left and Gnanduillet scored with a close-range header.

The visitors went further ahead five minutes after half-time with a superb individual goal by Matthew Virtue, who ran some 20 yards before unleashing a 25-yard right-foot shot into the corner of the net, giving keeper Richard O’Donnell no chance.

Bradford had a great chance to pull a goal back after 56 minutes when they were awarded a penalty.

Lewis O’Brien had a shot blocked and Ben Heneghan brought down David Ball in the ensuing goalmouth scramble only for Congo international Christoffer Mafoumbi to dive full length to his left to save leading scorer Eoin Doyle’s spot-kick.

Blackpool made Bradford pay for that miss by scoring two more goals. Gnanduillet headed his second goal from right-back Michael Nottingham’s cross in the 68th minute and substitute Chris Taylor scored the fourth with a close-range shot in the 80th minute after a great run by Nathan Delfouneso.

The home side scored a consolation goal in stoppage time with a far-post header from Ball from Paul Caddis’ delivery.