CITY 1 CHELTENHAM 2

CHELTENHAM boss Michael Duff had warned his high-flyers to be wary of the “wounded” animal.

But the beat-up Bantams showed they could still bite – before eventually being tamed as many thought they would be.

A predictable outcome at Valley Parade from the outside but Stuart McCall’s patched-up troops gave it a decent go against the second-placed visitors.

Clayton Donaldson again gave City the lead but ultimately a fourth loss in 10 days dropped them to fourth-from-bottom, two points above the League Two drop zone.

“It was really cruel,” admitted McCall afterwards. “I’m absolutely gutted for the players.”

Injuries were biting deep as McCall had warned with Gareth Evans and Billy Clarke joining hamstring victim Zeli Ismail on the sidelines from Saturday.

Teenage midfielder Kian Scales was thrust into his first league start in midfield alongside Callum Cooke while Dylan Mottley-Henry partnered workhorse Donaldson up front.

City lined up in a 4-3-3 with Bryce Hosannah encouraged to get forward – and he needed no invitation.

The odds might have been stacked against the hosts in terms of recent results but they should have led after a very bright start.

Scales showed his confidence from the off with a volley that would have worried keeper Josh Griffiths without a deflection.

Playing as the number 10, the 18-year-old was bubbly with everything he did and that seemed to rub off on those around him.

City had a glorious chance to go in front on 10 minutes. Paudie O’Connor’s header from Elliot Watt’s free-kick was parried by Josh Griffiths into the path of Ben Richards-Everton.

The centre half had the goal gaping from six yards out but dug it into the side-netting and held his head in frustration.

City were gnashing their teeth again from the next attack as Donaldson appeared to be tugged back in the box by William Boyle right under the eyes of the assistant.

George Lloyd’s cross-shot looped on to the roof of the net but it was the Bantams threatening to turn the tables – and they were rewarded midway through the half.

Cooke delivered a cross right on the money and Donaldson jumped highest to power home his header.

That spurred Cheltenham into an immediate response and Liam Sercombe hammered against the bar as City switched off.

But it was so much better from McCall’s men after Saturday’s surrender against Oldham.

Unfortunately it was all undone just before the break. Chris Hussey’s run was not closed down and Alfie May had room to fire off a shot that deflected off Paudie O’Connor’s left leg to leave Richard O’Donnell stranded helplessly.

It could have got instantly worse as George Lloyd’s drive was saved by the City keeper before May’s follow-up was blocked.

Lifted by that late revival, Cheltenham sensed a comeback win on the cards and came out swinging.

Finn Azaz twice and Lloyd both had a go in the opening minutes as McCall bellowed instructions for his players to calm down.

City almost struck when Watt slipped in Hosannah, who dinked past the on-rushing Griffiths and agonisingly wide of the far post.

But the traffic was mainly towards the Kop – which City were unusually defending for the second half.

Hussey seemed to have created a second when his cross sparked a goal-mouth melee. The loose ball broke to May but Richards-Everton made up for that early miss by blocking his shot over the bar from the goalline.

“Communicate with each other” screamed McCall, who had abandoned his usual spot in the stand to go pitch-side.

Cheltenham were committing more men forward as they sensed another – and it came from a predictable route.

City had handled Ben Tozer’s rocket throw-ins for the most part but then fatally switched off as he hurled another flat bomb into the mix. It sailed through unhindered for sub Chris Clements to get in from of Scales and nod in from short range.

Connor Wood fired a late 30-yarder over the bar but Cheltenham finished in cruise control.

A lot of improvements from a reshuffled City – but once again nothing to show for it as the problems continue to mount.

CITY: O’Donnell 6, Hosannah 7 (French 63min), A O’Connor 6, P O’Connor 6, Richards-Everton 7, Wood 6, Watt 7, Cooke 7 (Pritchard 73min), Scales 7, Mottley-Henry 6 (Samuels 82min), Donaldson 6. Subs (not used): Longridge, Sikora, Cousin-Dawson, Hornby.

CHELTENHAM: Griffiths 6, Hussey 8, Tozer 7, Raglan 6, Boyle 7, Azaz 7 (Sang 78min), Sercombe 6, Chapman 5 (Clements 46min, 7), Blair 6, Lloyd 7, May 7 (Williams 78min). Subs (not used): Bowry, Reid, Williams, Freestone, Flinders.

CITY MAN OF MATCH: Kian Scales.