The Sky Blues recorded a comfortable victory over Bradford at the Ricoh Arena courtesy of goals from former Bantam Jordy Hiwula and Bright Enobakhare.
The first chance of the game fell to the visitors. A cross in to the box caused confusion between Hyam and Burge and the ball fell invitingly to Lewis O’Brien, but Tom Davies was on hand to make a crucial goal saving block.
Despite early Bradford pressure, it was the Sky Blues who broke the deadlock after 9 minutes. A superb through ball from Liam Kelly found Hiwula in the box who kept his composure to calmly slot the ball past Ben Wilson in the Bantams goal.
Lee Burge pulled off a terrific save to keep the Sky Blues ahead just minutes later. Sean Scannell ran towards goal unchallenged before having a shot from the edge of the area, but his low drive was smartly kept out by the City goalkeeper.
Bright Enobakhare crashed one against the woodwork after the fifteen-minute mark. He did well to create space for himself in the box and get his shot away, however his shot cannoned back off the post and bounced to safety.
O’Brien had another chance for the visitors as the first half wore on. A cross from Scannell found the midfielder in acres of space in the box, but his shot took a deflection and was easily saved by Burge.
As the first half drew to a close Ben Wilson saved from Hiwula to prevent City from extending their advantage. A cross from Sterling found Hiwula at the back post, but his low shot from the angle was saved by Wilson.
Bradford were then reduced to ten men just before half time. Nathaniel Knight-Percival was shown a second yellow card following an incident with Bakayoko, and the Bantams man saw red in the 45th minute.
That was the end of the action in a busy first half, with the Sky Blues going in a goal up, and a man up, at the break.
Jordy Hiwula had a golden opportunity to put City two goals to the good ten minutes after the restart. A cross found Enobakhare in the box and his brilliant first-time flick set Hiwula up at the back post, but his first time shot curled agonisingly wide.
City were starting to dominate the game and Bright and Jordy went close in quick succession. Firstly, Bright’s dipping shot from range went narrowly over the bar and Hiwula then had another opportunity to double his tally. Good work from Luke Thomas found the forward unmarked in the area, but his shot was well blocked by a Bradford defender.
Sam McCallum had a chance to open his City account with 20 minutes remaining. The full back found himself in the box, but his low volley lacked power and was well saved by Wilson.
Bradford’s first chance of the second half resulted in Tom Davies having to clear the ball off the line. A corner was whipped in which caused havoc in the City box and Davies was on hand to clear the ball to safety.
The two central defenders had brilliant chances to finish the game off with five minutes to go. Dom Hyam met a corner, but his header was cleared off the line and the rebound fell to Tom Davies who blazed his shot over the bar.
Bright Enobakhare sealed the points for City in the 88th minute. A fantastic lofted through ball from Liam Kelly found Bright in the box and he smashed home to double the Sky Blues’ lead.
Bradford had a chance for a consolation in stoppage time, but Eoin Doyle miscued his shot when bearing down on Lee Burge’s goal and City ran out comfortable winners.
Sky Blues Xl: Lee Burge (GK), Dujon Sterling, Dom Hyam, Tom Davies, Sam McCallum, Liam Kelly (C), Jordan Shipley (Conor Chaplin 57’), Luke Thomas, Bright Enobakhare, Jordy Hiwula (Jordan Ponticelli 90’), Amadou Bakayoko (Zain Westbrooke 74’)
Unused Subs: Corey Addai (GK), Junior Brown, Jordan Willis, Charlie Wakefield.
Bradford City XI: Ben Wilson (GK), Paudie O’Connor, Anthony O’Connor, Sean Scannell, Eoin Doyle, Jacob Butterfield (Jermaine Anderson 71’), Nathaniel Knight-Percival, Connor Wood, Paul Caddis © (Daniel Devine 74’), Josh Wright
Unused Subs: Richard O’Donnell (GK), Jack Payne, George Miller, Billy Clarke, Luca Colville
Yellow Cards – Liam Kelly 21’, Dujon Sterling 29’, Nathaniel Knight-Percival 34’ + 45’, Lewis O’Brien 83’
Red Cards – Knight-Percival 45’
Attendance – 11,711 (601)