Manchester City lost a battle of completely-contrasting styles to crash out of the EFL Trophy at Bradford City on Tuesday.
Needing a win to keep up their chances of reaching the knockout stages alive, City approached the game at their League Two opponents with their usual brand of possession-based football that has defined the academy’s recent success in age-group football. They would dominate the ball as expected, but the experience and direct tactics of Bradford would earn them a place in the next round instead.
A first-half hat-trick from the Bantams’ Tyler Smith gave City too much to do - the second goal particularly frustrating as it squeezed through City goalkeeper George Murray-Jones.
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City exited the EFL Trophy at the group stage for the third season running, although this year has its caveats as many of the previous season’s squad were sold over the summer. The Class of 2024 are a much younger group, and exit the trophy with only a penalty shoot-out win at Grimsby to their name.
This was a harsh lesson from a League Two side scrapping for form after parting ways with former City boss Mark Hughes, and the build-up to this one saw Bradford announce they were changing caretaker managers. In constant drizzle at Valley Parade, City were given a cruel taste of senior football.
Despite having all of the ball, the young Blues struggled to create any chances of note - at least until it was too late. Bradford, on the other hand, had little of the ball, but were far more ruthless with it when they did get it off City.
All three first-half goals came from the same move. They won the ball in the centre, played it behind the City defence to the lively Smith, and he scored his first two one-on-one with Murray-Jones. The second of the two went under the goalkeeper when he should have kept it out - and when he saved the third effort, Smith bundled in his hat-trick goal from the resulting corner.
The second half saw some fight from City. Farid Alfa-Ruprecht hit the outside of the post on a good breakaway led by Max Alleyne. But for all the commitment, they knew the contest was over in that first half. Brian Barry-Murphy can have no complaints about the application of his side across their three trophy games this season - the experience and nouse to do well in this competition just lacking.
It is always tough for the Premier League academy sides against Football League opposition, but the nature of the identical goals on Tuesday will frustrate City. In fact, they were by far the better side with the ball so their failure to make that count will also be a cause for regret, but Bradford simply played the contest better.
Progress in the EFL Trophy was earmarked by City coaches and players at the start of the season as an area for improvement on previous campaigns, so this defeat will sting. City will now resume their Premier League 2 campaign where form is mixed amid a complete restructure of the format of the division, and look to build on a good start to the UEFA Youth League where they sit top of their group at the halfway stage.
The transfer window has been a hectic one and City have been busy, with high-profile signings and sales aplenty.
City snapped up Croatian pair Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol from Chelsea and RB Leipzig respectively with the latest addition being Jeremy Doku. Wolves’ Matheus Nunes then joined the Blues on deadline day. In terms of outgoings, Treble winner Ilkay Gundogan departed for Barcelona, Aymeric Laporte and Riyad Mahrez moved to Saudi Arabia, and Cole Palmer completed a shock move to Chelsea.
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