Tranmere couldn’t make their assertiveness count in a bitterly disappointing evening in Yorkshire, as the ‘Super White Army’ were sunk by goals from Jamie Walker and Andy Cook.

After a positive performance on Saturday against Salford City, where they were defensively strong, they were undone twice. The first goal raising a question mark as to how it was not thwarted. It looked from the display that Tranmere missed the presence of Jordan Turnbull, a defensive unit who’s chalked up plenty of man-of-the-match awards, with makeshift centre back Kyle Jameson struggling last night.

Bradford, were excellent as a back-line, cutting out Rovers a few times, dominating the contest without un-phasing Harry Lewis, missed opportunities.

Tranmere was forced to weather the storm early on, when new Bantams’ addition Matt Derbyshire lashed a venomous effort goalwards, but Tom Davies was able to divert any danger away.

Tranmere injected impetus just after Bradford’s chance, when Josh Hawkes reacted to Ethan Bristow’s ball from the left, however, the Rovers front-man couldn’t keep his effort down.

Tranmere’s top-scorer Kane Hemmings, who is having a little dry patch in-front of goal, almost found an important one to give his side the lead after a flick-on reached the striker's gaping in space, but after another effort by the ‘Whites’ in-front of goal went astray.

Bradford began to pile the pressure on the Tranmere back-line, with efforts from Derbyshire, Jamie Walker and Andy Cook all coming close to drawing first blood for the hosts, with the latter coming closest as a flicked header flashed wide of the post.

More chances came and went for the visitors as Josh Dacres-Cogley threatened the goal without netting and an Ethan Bristow ball across the face agonisingly flew through a sea of bodies only requiring a touch, which nobody claimed.

It was inevitable that Tranmere was going to be punished for wasting vital opportunities, and that’s what Bradford did minutes before the second half. Former Rovers left-back Liam Ridehalgh laid off Jamie Walker who guided a left-footed effort into the corner to give the ‘Bantams’ the upper-hand.

HT: Bradford City 1-0 Tranmere Rovers

Bradford pushed on and looked likely to net a second in the opening stages of the second half when a drifted free-kick launched into the penalty area caused great confusion, but it was able to be scrambled away.

Tranmere had two consecutive opportunities from Regan Hendry, who should have at least dispatched one. His first effort came as he let the ball sit on the volley but saw his shot blocked, with Logan Chalmers spooning the rebound. His second came in symmetrical territory but this time, it missed the target.

Tranmere’s misery was completed when former goal-scorer and promotion winner, Andy Cook, succumbed the visitors with a second. The ‘Bantams’ top scorer looped a header over Mateus Hewelt to round off the scoring.