Bradford City climbed to the top of League One following a 2-0 victory over Stevenage at Valley Parade on Saturday, securing their first league win under new manager Michael Duff, who took charge 11 days ago. Strikers Antoni Sarcevic and Will Swan scored late in the match, both goals coming in the final 11 minutes to seal the triumph.

Duff expressed satisfaction with his team’s persistence and the tactical adjustments made during the game. He praised Bradford’s disciplined approach, noting the increased presence in the penalty area compared to their previous outing. “We got more numbers in the box today,” Duff said, highlighting how the team evolved from having two players in attacking positions during crosses last week to four against Stevenage. The manager also credited his substitutes, who had a significant impact on the game’s outcome. “We were thinking of making all four at one point but didn’t want that to come across as desperate,” he explained. “Ultimately, that’s what you want. You want substitutes to impact the game.”

The match began with Stevenage posing an early threat, with Dan Kemp’s 20-yard shot tipped over the bar by Bradford goalkeeper Jon McCracken within the first 30 seconds. Stevenage also created other opportunities, including a deflected effort from Adam Phillips that went wide off a Bradford defender. Despite these chances, Bradford gradually grew into the match, with the introduction of forwards Nick Powell, Stephen Humphrys, and Swan injecting fresh impetus.

The breakthrough came in the 79th minute following a penalty awarded to Bradford after Powell was fouled by Stevenage goalkeeper Tommy Sefton. Sarcevic converted the spot-kick to give the Bantams the lead. Swan then doubled the advantage eight minutes later, capitalizing on a loose ball spilled by Sefton from a Humphrys cross.

Stevenage manager Alex Revell acknowledged the effect Bradford’s substitutes had on the game and expressed frustration over his team’s missed opportunities. “We weren’t ruthless enough in the first half,” Revell said. “We created some really big moments here that you don’t often get and didn’t make the most of them.” He added that his side defended well, limiting Bradford’s chances mostly to those stemming from mistakes, and felt the scoreline did not reflect the overall balance of the game. “We’re disappointed because I don’t think they are 2-0 better than us.”

The result marks a positive start for Duff’s tenure as Bradford look to sustain their momentum in the League One campaign.