Swindon Town 2 Bradford City 1

FEBRUARY 24 is a date that will be forever etched in Bantams fans’ minds.

But unfortunately, the second anniversary of their remarkable appearance in the Capital One Cup final could not be marked with a positive result against their play-off rivals last night.

For the first 45 minutes, there were even fears of another Swansea-style thrashing as Swindon threatened to run riot against a surprisingly out-of-sorts opposition.

Thankfully, the second half was much more like City who fought their way back and gave the hosts a few anxious moments before slipping to only their fourth away defeat of the league campaign.

Nottingham Forest winger Oliver Burke completed his 28-day youth loan in time to be involved and Phil Parkinson had no hesitation in throwing the 17-year-old straight into action for his first start in senior football.

His only previous two appearances for Forest had been from the bench.

With Burke on the right, Andy Halliday switched to the left and Mark Yeates dropped to the bench after a quiet display on Saturday.

City’s form on the road has been exceptional and the first of five trips in the next six league games should have held no fears.

Parkinson had hoped to take advantage of Swindon’s recent dip in confidence after three straight defeats for Mark Cooper’s young team. Instead, they were very much second best from the opening whistle of the first half.

Swindon were boosted by the return of Australian international Massimo Luongo from injury – and the midfielder who is regarded as one of the best players in the division lived up to his billing with a double strike before the break.

The pitch was a treat compared with Valley Parade and Burke had an early opportunity to show off his pace on a City counter.

But the visitors escaped in the 13th minute when Swindon top scorer Andy Williams headed over from Ben Gladwin’s cross. Williams, who has netted 20 already, was unmarked at the far post but there was too much power on the pass and he could not get over the ball.

City had not really got going and Swindon made their early pressure count from the next attack.

Gladwin was the instigator again as he squared to Luongo arriving in the box to beat Jordan Pickford with a precise angled drive.

The bookies, who had made the Aussie a ridiculously generous 20/1 shot for first goal scorer, were caught as cold as the Bantams.

Swindon had the bit between their teeth and opened up the visitors with another counter, Nathan Byrne feeding Gladwin with room again. But this time Stephen Darby tracked back well enough to block the shot behind.

Branco headed over from the corner as Swindon continued to turn the screw. And more agony looked on the cards as a great first-time pass from Jack Stephens set up Williams.

Rory McArdle was caught wrong side of the striker and chose not to risk bringing him down in the box, allowing Williams a free shot which he curled against the bar.

City survived three successive corners but there was no sign of the red tide turning. It remained all Swindon.

The Bantams were not helping themselves by giving the ball away and Halliday conceded a needless free-kick that had serious consequences after 34 minutes.

Stephens, the centre half playing in midfield, slid a pass towards Williams in the corner of the box. But Luongo was on it first with a firm toe-poked shot that flew into the far corner.

City were being carved open far too easily – and had offered absolutely nothing at the other end. Two free-kicks from Billy Knott flew harmlessly straight into Wes Foderingham’s arms.

As the frustration increased, so did the yellow card count – including one for Gary Liddle that took him to the ten-booking barrier and a ban for the next two games. But he will, at least, be available to face Reading.

James Meredith was another and he did not return for the second half when Parkinson sent City back out early. The left back was already on a final warning with ref Carl Berry and was wisely replaced by Swindon old boy Alan Sheehan – who was red-carded against them in September.

City needed to find another gear after the break and certainly did so.

Billy Clarke scuffed their first shot from their first corner straight at Wes Foderingham but the little Irishman made no mistake when gifted a second opportunity.

Stead, who had been quiet, charged towards the box before angling a pass into the goal mouth. Nathan Thompson went to deal with it but the Swindon skipper only succeeded in diverting the ball straight to Clarke who snaffled up the chance.

City had grabbed a lifeline from their more positive approach but it needed a stunning save from Pickford to prevent Swindon quickly restoring their two-goal cushion.

Luongo eased away from his marker Knott and fired a rocket towards the top corner – only for the keeper to foil his hat-trick bid with a fantastic one-handed tip past the post.

Then Byrne tried his luck from a similar position but the ball fizzed a yard or so over the bar.

Burke had grown into the game after a nervous start and could be fairly happy with his work when he made way in a double sub with 15 minutes left.

City, who brought on Yeates and Francois Zoko, were screaming for a penalty when Gladwin appeared to block Darby’s cross with an arm. But referee Carl Berry was unmoved – much to the frustration of an animated away bench.

Byrne responded with a mazy run into the penalty area before wasting the build-up with an awful shot wide.

City still had time to throw everything forward and Zoko tried to burrow his way through but there was no late equaliser to reward a much-improved second-half effort.