CITY 1 HARROGATE 3

THE pain goes on for the rudderless Bantams – as another defeat increased the urgency for action over the vacant hot-seat.

Richie Wellens was the latest contender to be in the Valley Parade crowd to witness a third defeat on the bounce.

It was a second under Mark Trueman’s caretaker stewardship and the performance, a lot brighter than recent games, did not warrant the few boos that were heard at the final whistle.

But ultimately a fifth loss in seven as Harrogate came from behind to clinch a “double” double continued City’s depressing slide. It’s now only one win in 11 at Valley Parade.

City had caught a break ahead of the game with their successful appeal to overturn Paudie O’Connor’s weekend red card.

That cleared the skipper to play in a side featuring three changes from Boundary Park – and a shift in formation.

O’Connor was one of three centre halves alongside Yann Songo’o and the returning Matty Foulds with Luke Hendrie and Alex Gilliead operating as wing-backs.

Trueman also handed Tom Elliott his second start as he went with two big men in attack.

But the move lasted just 11 minutes before the on-loan Salford striker was hobbling off after taking a knock.

Theo Robinson was hurried on in his place – and the crowd were still digesting the change when City hit the front in thrilling fashion.

Hendrie’s long throw into the box was half-cleared as far as Matty Foulds 25 yards from goal and he sent it back with interest to hammer a drive into the bottom corner.

It was a special way for the hometown lad to open his account for the club and he reacted with an ecstatic knee slide in front of the away fans.

Suddenly Valley Parade found its voice as the fans had something to cheer – and you could see the lift on the pitch.

The pumped-up Bantams threatened again through Gilliead, keeper Mark Oxley reacting superbly to push away his shot which came through a crowd of players.

Oxley came to Harrogate’s rescue again to deny Levi Sutton’s snap-shot – and leave the City midfielder clutching his head in frustration.

It was certainly much more entertainment than the Valley Parade audience had witnessed in recent games and there was a positive vibe about the place.

Harrogate might have had more of the ball but City carried the threat – until they enjoyed a big escape on 35 minutes.

George Thomson whipped a delicious cross into the goal-mouth which only needed a touch from Ryan Fallowfield running in. But the right back missed it altogether much to the relief of the watching Kop.

Hendrie’s throw-ins were proving a profitable attacking avenue for City and another hurled into the box was headed out as far as Elliot Watt for a speculative half-volley that had Oxley scrambling as it dropped wide.

But City’s good work over the half was undone with a sucker punch right at the end.

Foulds tracked back into his own box to make a crucial block to deny a menacing Harrogate counter after Watt's corner had been quickly cleared.

But the hosts were punished from Lewis Page’s resulting flag kick as Warren Burrell headed a scruffy equaliser. It was Harrogate’s first effort on target.

That could have knocked the stuffing out of City, particularly when Jack Muldoon then side-footed wide after strike partner Luke Armstrong had set up a very acceptable chance to start the second half.

City, though, responded with three successive corners – and the volume around the place was raised accordingly with a rendition of “everywhere we go”. That hasn’t been heard for a while.

But the Bantams were punished for giving up a soft free-kick just after the hour which Page bent over the wall and beyond the stretching Alex Bass.

Oxley had frustrated City in the first meeting – and was at it again with a flying save to tip away Gilliead’s goal-bound header.

Oxley denied Gilliead once more, pushing a low curler round the post, and O’Connor nodded over the bar from the corner.

But Harrogate made sure of the win when Jack Diamond, who had scored both goals in the first win, raced clear and slotted past Bass.