STEVE Winterburn’s reign as Bradford City WFC manager got off to a bad start as the Bantams were soundly beat 10-1 away at high-flying Sunderland in FA Women's National League, Northern Premier Division.

The young City side were a goal down after only four minutes, as captain Harriet Jakeman’s attempted clearance rebounded into the path of a Grace McCatty who slotted home from close range.

For Sunderland's second, City's Aimee Routledge made a fingertip save only to see the ball drop to the waiting Emily Hutchinson who volleyed it in.

City were under constant pressure from an experienced home side, but stood firm until the half hour mark when a foul from Khloe Cooper allowed Bridget Galloway to score from the spot.

Bradford's misfortune was compounded when Charlotte Sales limped off to be replaced by Paris Durrant after a heavy tackle.

Two minutes later Sunderland found the net again, McCatty firing a direct free kick in.

Sunderland started the second half as strongly as the first, and a frantic passage of play saw them score five goals in under 15 minutes.

Galloway grabbed her second on 47 minutes, with Kiera Ramshaw scoring in the 50th.

Three minutes later Mollie Lambert lobbed the stranded Routledge.

At the hour mark, Sunderland had another two - Ramshaw with her second, and the hosts’ eighth, before Lambert completed her brace with a long range shot.

Winterburn made a double-substitution in the 68th minute, replacing Jen Clark and Kate Donnan with Jess Dunlop and Rhianna Wright.

Almost immediately afterwards Ramshaw had her hat-trick, putting Sunderland into double figures.

City grabbed a deserved consolation goal with 12 minutes remaining when Faloni Sumaili picked up a delightful through ball from Cas Omboyi and rounded the Sunderland keeper.

City stood firm for the final minutes and were grateful for the full time whistle.

Winterburn said: “Who would take over a team that had played 11 league matches and lost 11 matches and been knocked out of all 3 cup competitions before Christmas?

“The answer is someone who cares about the club and wants to help them get back to where they belong, and that someone is me.

He added: “I have been coaching women’s football for over 13 years now and have been involved in this league and this level of football for about 10 and the standard is very high. To survive in this league you need a big squad and a thriving junior section. Unfortunately for reasons beyond the control of the club we can only boast about the latter.

“Sunderland are an exceptional team and we knew how this game was going to pan out, and yet after the game we still had smiles on our faces and that means a lot to me. In the short time I’ve had to work with these players we have talked about the situation that we find ourselves in, and none of us are under any illusion that things are going to change overnight."

He added: "We also know the rest of the season is going to be long, difficult, and in some way cruel, but we will stick together work hard and fight to the bitter end and what will be will be”.

Sunderland’s win saw them leapfrog Huddersfield Town into second place, as the Terriers lost 4-3 to runaway leaders Blackburn Rovers, who have now won 11 from 11.

City play mid-table Derby County at Eccleshill United FC next Sunday.

Bradford City Line-up: Routledge, Cooper, Clark (Dunlop 68), Shuttleworth, Jakeman, Sales (Durrant 32), Moulden, Norde, Omboyi, Donnan (Wright 68), Sumaili