By Jason McKeown

As the Bradford City players relentlessly rampaged and pressed and overpowered and pressed and dazzled and pressed it was scarcely believable that they were the League One underdogs, and that the hosts Stoke City were the club standing top of the Championship. This was a cup upset in name only after the so-called minnows gave the quote unquote giants a mauling. David jacked up and vicious. Goliath timid and feeble. And there was only ever going to be one winner.

That said, an asterisk definitely needs to be applied to this. Stoke had made 10 changes to their starting XI. They chose to be understrength, prioritising their Saturday lunchtime Championship Midlands derby with West Brom. Fair to say that few, if any, of the 10 back-ups will be troubling the starting XI at the weekend. It was a collective failure to turn up. They just couldn’t live with Bradford City.

Much has been said about the Bantams rotation approach, but the strong squad built by Graham Alexander, David Sharpe and Stephen Gent gives them such an edge on evenings like this. To a man the visitors were outstanding, playing with an intensity and purpose that their youthful opponents struggled to live with. Yet just five of this Bantams starting XI have started more than one league game this season. If there’s such a thing as a first choice City line up, this wasn’t it. So to perform as cohesively as this says so much about the strength of this squad. And the identity Alexander has instilled.

The dedication to the gameplan was hugely impressive. City would quickly launch the ball up the park and press. They knocked it about with zip and verve – and when they lose possession they press. They don’t mind having less of the ball, because they lie in wait for the right moment to press.

Did I mention they like to press?

You could smell blood right from kick off. High standards were quickly set and maintained. Stoke were pushed back in the early minutes and never looked comfortable. Attack, corner, clearance, press, tackle, attack.

Will Swan might have scored early doors when a loose ball fell his way on the edge of the box, but he mistimed his effort and kicked only air. A moment later Tyreik Wright cut in and hit a shot that almost troubled the corner flag. No matter, they were both just finding their range. Soon enough, they combined to deadly effect.

It was a corner, 12 minutes in. Wright sent it to the near post, Swan made a clever run and met it unchallenged, directing a header into the far corner. 1-0 City, and yet another goal for the summer signing. Swan is averaging a goal every 83.3 minutes so far for the Bantams – the equivalent of a goal a game. At Crawley last season, he was averaging a goal every 347 minutes. Some difference.

Swan is utterly perfect for City’s pressing style. He just runs and runs. He harries and harasses. Defenders don’t get a minute’s peace. He would continue to be hugely influential.

Indeed, Swan played a big role in goal number two, 32 minutes in. He had the ball in the centre of the pitch, just outside the box, and was tackled. Despite being on the floor, Swan didn’t give up and managed to win back possession before flicking it to George Lapslie. From there Lapslie found Brad Halliday in acres of space, and the right wing back – surprisingly yet to be awarded a single minute of action before tonight – ran through and finished smartly.

2-0, and Stoke yet to even have a shot. They finally produced one a minute later and showed some small improvement before and just after the break, but it really was crumbs of comfort. Any hope of staging a comeback was ended on the hour when the Bantams made it 3-0. Swan was again involved, going on a jinking run and firing a shot at goal that was blocked by Jack Bonham. The ball fell to Lapslie, who calmed slotted home his first goal of the season.

Stoke City 0 Bradford City 3.

Blimey.

From there Stoke hoisted the white flag and really it could have been more. Subs Alex Pattison and debutant Nick Powell had chances to make it four. It wouldn’t have flattered City. From front to back they bullied, battered and bettered the Championship side.

The desire of City was just so uplifting to watch. Witness Ibou Touray bursting into the penalty area, seemingly being crowded out but never giving it up and winning it back against two Stoke defenders. Marvel at Joe Wright, Aden Baldwin and Ciaran Kelly heading away every ball into the box with great relish. Grin at Tommy Leigh and Jenson Metcalffe setting the tempo in the centre, easily winning their battles against Bosun Lawal and the experienced Ben Pearson. Delight in Wright and Lapslie both having really good games behind star man Swan. And hats off to Halliday, who returned from the cold and performed like he’d never been away. Some guy.

It all means City are in round three for only the second time since the famous 2012/13 run to the final. This is the moment when all the Premier League teams in Europe enter the competition. In both 2014/15 and 2023/24, the third round draw wasn’t kind – handing City ties with MK Dons and Middlesbrough respectively. Will they have more luck this time? The possibilities are huge. All Bantams eyes will be on the draw when it’s made on Wednesday evening.

Whatever tie they are given, their opponents will not enjoy playing this Bradford City side. They’re rising to the biggest of the occasions, adding Stoke to a list of notable early season victories that include Blackburn, Stockport, Luton and Wycombe. They remain unbeaten in all competitions and have barely put a foot wrong so far.

It is absolutely astonishing what Alexander has built so quickly from the tailwinds of the dramatic way they clinched promotion last May. They’re standing on the shoulders of that giant achievement by unlocking levels we could scarcely dream were possible, so soon. They keep rising higher and higher in their accomplishments – and there is absolutely no sign yet of heads bumping against a ceiling limit of what they could achieve.

Categories: Match Reviews

Tags: 2025/26, BCAFC, League Cup, Stoke City