Swindon Town pull off late comeback to win nine-goal thriller against Bradford

Swindon Town pulled off a miraculous comeback to beat Bradford City 5-4 in a nine-goal thriller at the Nigel Eady County Ground.

Callum Kavanagh netted twice in the opening 10 minutes for the Bantams in the League Two contest, leaving Ian Holloway’s side with it all to do.

But the visitors were reduced to 10 men four minutes later when Richie Smallwood was dismissed for a challenge deemed reckless on Paul Glatzel.

Neill Byrne’s own goal gave Swindon a foothold in the game at 2-1 down, before Kavanagh completed his hat-trick after 35 minutes to restore the visitors’ two-goal cushion.

Kabongo Tshimanga pulled a goal back for Town before the break, then Harry Smith levelled at 3-3 to set up a grandstand finish.

Bradford must have thought they had won it when Brad Halliday put them ahead again 13 minutes from time, before Town staged a remarkable late rally.

Smith made it 4-4 in the 90^th minute before an own goal from Jack Shepherd made it 5-4 and sent Swindon to back-to-back wins.

Holloway said post-match: "I have never seen a game like it, and I probably never will again. It is not too good for your ticker, but it is wonderful when you are on the right side of it.

"One of my lads banged on their door after the game and we shouldn't do that, you have to be dignified.

"There were a lot of things today that I was not proud of.

"But the team made me proud today and the supporters made me proud today.”

Holloway’s side are up to 12^th in the League Two table, nine points off the play-off places with four games of their campaign remaining.