Accrington Stanley lost their final pre-season friendly 2-0 to Bradford City, ahead of the League One opener at Wycombe next Saturday.
The damage was done in first 21 minutes at the Wham Stadium as Derek Adams’ side went 2-0 up and, despite pressing after the break, the Reds couldn’t find their way back into the game.
Bradford opened the scoring in the fourth minute when Andy Cook raced at goal, evading a number of challenges, and his final shot took a deflection past James Trafford.
Lee Angol could have made it two on 14 minutes after a one-two with Cook but fired the ball narrowly wide.
Trafford then kept out dangerman Cook as the Bantams piled on the pressure in the early stages.
Striker Cook made it two on 21 minutes with a thumping header from a Callum Cooke corner.
Stanley hadn’t really tested Bantams keeper Sam Hornby and their best chance was a header onto the roof of the net.
However Bradford continued to press with Angol firing across the goal and just wide while Ross Sykes headed off-target towards the end of the half as the Reds looked to get back in the game.
Bradford had the first real chance after the break, Angol’s strike narrowly wide, but then Stanley forced the pace.
Dion Charles was unlucky to see his acrobatic effort deflected for a corner while, on the hour mark, John O’Sullivan’s cross from the left was headed inches over the crossbar by Charles. From the resulting corner, Colby Bishop couldn’t find the target.
Joe Pritchard forced a save out of sub keeper Richard O’Donnell while, on 68 minutes, Charles broke from the halfway line and fed Bishop but O’Donnell denied him with his legs.
Coleman made a number of changes and Stanley continued to press as the Reds fired towards the Farleys Solicitors Clayton End.
Sub Joel Mumbongo’s low drive was superbly kept out by O’Donnell as Stanley couldn't find a way past the stopper.
Stanley: Trafford, Nottingham, Burgess, Butcher, Sykes, Pell, O’Sullivan, Charles, Bishop, Pritchard, McConville
Subs: Savin, Morgan, Rodgers, Mumbongo, Fenlon, Leigh, Procter, Perritt, Scully, Trialist A