Accrington Stanley lost their first game under Interim Manager John Doolan with a 3-0 defeat to in-form Bradford City.

The Bantams made it five league games unbeaten with three first half goals while Tommy Leigh hit the woodwork for the mid-table Reds.

Oli Patrick made his first league start for Stanley with Jake Bickerstaff and Ben Woods returning following the loss at Wrexham.

Bradford came close in the opening seconds but Tyreik Wright could not connect with Richie Smallwood’s cross.

Bickerstaff latched onto a Bradford pass and raced from halfway but his effort was deflected over.

Bradford opened the scoring on 12 minutes when Andy Cook flicked the ball on and Wright slotted home, despite Radek Vitek getting a hand to it.

The Bantams made it two on 23 minutes when a Lewis Richards throw went through to Wright who, one-on-one with Vitek, fired low into the far corner of the net.

It was three on 35 minutes when a long goal kick landed at the feet of Cook and he finished for his 16^th goal of the season.

Shaun Whalley fired over for Stanley while they came close to getting one back just before the break when Joe Gubbins’ ball into the box was headed against the crossbar by Tommy Leigh.

Whalley had a go after the restart but it was into Walker’s arms while Vitek denied Calum Kavanagh and sub Kavanagh fired narrowly wide soon after.

Doolan made a number of substitutions but the Reds could not find a way back.

Stanley: Vitek, O’Brien, Pickles, Gubbins, Patrick (Quirk), Martin, B Woods, Nolan (Adekoya), Leigh, Whalley (J Woods), Bickerstaff (Adedoyin)

Subs:  McIntyre,  Trickett, Henderson

Crowd: 4099 (2148 from Bradford)

Yellow: O’Brien