Bradford City vs Bristol Rovers. Sky Bet League One.
University of Bradford StadiumAttendance19,284.
Saturday 2 September 2017 16:03, UK
Charlie Wyke scored a hat-trick as Bradford City beat Bristol Rovers 3-1 in Sky Bet League One on Saturday.
The striker, who hadn't scored since early April, broke the deadlock early on before netting two more after the break to round off a convincing win for the home side at the Northern Commercials Stadium.
Billy Bodin then pulled one back late on for Rovers, but it was too little too late as they fell to a third defeat of the campaign while the hosts secured their third win in five games.
Bradford took charge pretty much from the off and had the lead after 13 minutes as a Romain Vincelot nodded a corner into the path of Wyke at the far post, and he poked home his first of the season.
It was largely one-way traffic throughout most of the first half, but Rovers had a brilliant chance to equalise after 38 minutes as Ellis Harrison pulled the ball back for Byron Moore, but his header was cleared superbly off the line by Nat Knight-Percival.
Rovers started far better at the start of the second half, but more poor defending from a corner let them down badly as Wyke got his second after 62 minutes. Another Tony McMahon corner sailed into the heart of the six-yard box, and the striker rose highest to nod in.
And it was game over 11 minutes later as Wyke got his third, nodding in from close range at the far post after Jake Reeves had hooked an excellent ball across the face of the goal.
Bodin then netted a late consolation after Tom Nichols' stunning effort from the edge of the area ricocheted off the post and into his path, but Bradford held on for victory.
Bradford City travel to Peterborough in Sky Bet League One next Saturday, while Bristol Rovers host Walsall.
