Swindon 4, City 1

RONNIE Moore used to have the best phrase for lower-league consistency: "One week it's Real Madrid, the next it's Fray Bentos."

But you don't expect to see equal helpings of caviar and corned beef served up in the same afternoon.

The opening day of the season traditionally throws up its fair share of wild and whacky results – and City were among good company in the teams to suffer.

Sheffield United endured an even heavier defeat at Gillingham, while Wigan's bid to claim the 100 points demanded by their chairman began with an empty return from Coventry.

But surely nobody could have turned in two such contrasting halves as those witnessed by the 1,000 or so away fans who had left West Yorkshire with so much positive intention.

There was only one team in it for 45 minutes. There was only one team in it for the second half.

Unfortunately, it was not the men in black – who looked like they'd been abducted by aliens and replaced by bumbling impersonators during the break.

Phil Parkinson shared the bemusement of the travelling army as his side, which had oozed confidence and self-belief in the first half, then completely and utterly lost their way.

The Bantams boss admitted: "We looked vulnerable in the second half. But that same group of players looked so strong in the first period, so we know we've got the capabilities of doing a lot better."

The decision to leave out Gary Liddle, such a valuable warrior last season, caused a stir. As the inevitable speculative rumours swirled around the away end, Parkinson insisted his selection was purely tactical.

He had picked the same side that had lined up at Turf Moor the previous week in the curtain-closing pre-season friendly.

Tony McMahon had done well at Burnley and kept his place as the holding man in midfield; Chris Routis, perhaps a bit more surprisingly, was retained to his right.

As expected, City unveiled a diamond for their first road trip, with wingers Mark Marshall and Paul Anderson kept in reserve. According to their manager, both are still getting up to speed – but it would be no surprise to see the pair of them on Capital One Cup duty at York tomorrow.

Liddle will surely return as Parkinson rings the changes to ensure his full squad get early match practice. But a strong performance there will only increase the consternation among the fans about why he was not involved in Wiltshire.

Having said that, until 4pm on Saturday the only cause for concern was the fact that City were only one goal to the good.

Billy Clarke had said beforehand that it was a good time to catch Swindon, still wounded from their Wembley battering in the play-off final.

And the hosts, for all their neat interplay and pace when in possession, found it tough to hang on to City's coat tails in that dominant first period.

The visitors made the perfect start with a stunning fifth-minute strike from Josh Morris, the best player on the pitch before the break.

James Hanson rose above two markers to flick on a throw-in which Billy Knott worked inside to McMahon. He picked out Morris lurking a yard inside the D and his left-foot finish flew sweetly into the top corner.

That opened the door for a procession of City chances – none juicier than their first penalty for 11 months after Morris was clipped by Nathan Thompson.

But City had missed the last one against Swindon and while the names may have changed, the outcome was identical as on-loan Liverpool keeper Lawrence Vigouroux palmed away Clarke's poorly-struck attempt.

Still, there was no obvious hint of dented confidence as the Irishman went close with an audacious effort from just inside the Swindon half.

Then Morris put just a little too much on his cross as Knott arrived for a tap-in and Routis saw a free header cleared off the line.

So the half-time advantage was far skinnier than City merited – and Swindon were quick to turn the tables.

Swindon v City match pictures

Mark Cooper reverted to the 3-5-2 approach that suited them so well last season and bombed the wing-backs on. City, for whatever reason, suddenly had no answer.

The good habits had been left in the dressing room. The ball was given away far too cheaply, passes casually went astray. They were left chasing shadows in the searing heat as Swindon started to go through the gears and inevitably wilted.

Jon Obika drew three black shirts on the edge of the box, the loose ball broke to Jordan Williams and he fed the unmarked Nathan Byrne. Using the crowd of players as a shield, he beat the unsighted Ben Williams with the outside of his right foot.

The 'Bentos' Bantams were quickly carved open once again by Kevin Stewart's driving run. He sucked in both centre halves before setting up Byrne, one of two team-mates free by the penalty area, and he again supplied the decisive touch with the same part of his foot.

Williams this time got a left hand to it and beat the floor in frustration, knowing he could have done better.

But the keeper was being exposed by the lack of resistance around him. Swindon continued to walk through the midfield and a defence that parted alarmingly.

The third and fourth goals made even more horrific viewing from a City perspective.

Byrne ghosted past Nathan Clarke far too easily and took Rory McArdle and Stephen Darby with him before shooting through Williams' legs.

Then Jordan Turnbull bisected McArdle and Clarke for Obika to wrong-foot Williams with the fourth.

Remember, this was a Swindon side that had lost top scorer Andy Williams to Doncaster and axed another striker, Michael Smith, as he closes in on a move to Barnsley.

Byrne's 16-minute hat-trick will only increase the clamour for his services. But so much for being a good time to play them.

It's easy to get too worked up by the first result. The post-match optimists pointed out that the last two promotion campaigns opened with defeats – and the last time City went down 4-1 at Swindon, they finished the season winning at Wembley.

But that does not make such an unexpected capitulation any easier to stomach.

Attendance: 8,090