Andy Cook grabbed the headlines on his return to Prenton Park with a decisive brace in a hard-fought 2-0 win for Bradford City.
The defeat means six league outings without a win for Nigel Adkins’ Tranmere Rovers, leaving them 19th-placed in League Two amid a barren run in which goals have been a rare commodity.
For the Bantams, it was a second successive league win under Graham Alexander, sending their strong away support back to West Yorkshire safe in the knowledge they now occupy one of the League Two play-off places.
The hosts looked a threat in the opening stages, enjoying the majority of the territory and getting plenty of service to key creators Omari Patrick and Kieron Morris.
With 23 minutes on the clock however, Bradford took the lead via a familiar face. Cook, who spent two-and-a-half years with Rovers across two spells, tried his luck from range and saw his effort nestle in Luke McGee’s bottom corner.
Despite the setback, Tranmere continued to threaten. City goalkeeper Sam Walker was tested for the first time by a Patrick effort, following a poor pass from visiting captain Richie Smalwood.
Zak Bradshaw was the next to come close for the hosts when his header just missed the target after a fine delivery by Brad Walker. However, Rovers would still find themselves behind at the break, despite enjoying the better of the opportunities.
FT: #TRFC 0-2 Bradford City.
A disappointing second-half display by Rovers as Andy Cook grabs the headlines on his return to Prenton Park. pic.twitter.com/f7ig26P4Us
— MerseySportLive (@merseysportlive) October 12, 2024
Adkins sent out a statement at half-time, making a trio of substitutions which saw Harvey Saunders, Connor Jennings and Sam Finley enter the fray, the latter making a long-awaited league debut.
Tranmere’s pursuit of an equaliser resumed after the break, but the game progressed into its later stages without any real chances for the hosts. Their goalkeeper kept them in the game on the hour-mark, keeping out a well-hit effort by Calum Kavanagh.
The sucker-punch came on 72 minutes. Pushing for an equaliser, Rovers left the defence exposed two-against-two. Kavanagh set up Cook who made no mistake in piling the misery his on former employers.
In the remaining stages, the visitors had little trouble defending their two-goal cushion, despite being forced to defend deep.
Adkins will be keen to halt his side’s winless run after a disappointing second-half display with a busy period of League Two fixtures on the horizon.
