Doncaster Rovers' hoodoo over Bradford City continues with comeback EFL Trophy win

Finding themselves a goal down at half-time, Rovers roared back in the second half to finish top of Northern Group C and seal a fourth straight win over the West Yorkshire side in the process.

However, something you cannot fail to escape is that for many this tournament - especially the group stage - is largely considered an irrelevance or unwanted distraction. Ten changes apiece by both these sides probably told you that, as well as the fact that there weren't many souls watching this contest in the flesh (the south stand was closed for this game due to low demand). There was no surprise either, given the precious little jeopardy involved. A Yorkshire derby it may have been, but the only thing up for grabs for the winners was the guarantee of a home tie in the last-32.

Surely the EFL need to have a rethink of the Trophy to keep it relevant. Of the 16 Premier League academy sides 'invited' to compete, it says everything that just one solitary team has made it through to the next stage. A rejig is vastly overdue. Either shed the top flight under-21 sides completely or revert it back to straight knock-out ties to save us all from evenings like this.

Ironically, despite all of that negativity, a half-decent affair unfolded here after an admittedly quiet start. The Bantams bossed possession in the early throes without properly threatening Ian Lawlor's goal. They began to assert their authority on the contest as the half progressed as Lawlor raced out to smother an Alex Pattison effort after a quick counter.

But he was powerless to prevent City taking the lead just before half-time when Tyreik Wright hammered home from the left-hand side of the area after a surging run from midfield.

Rovers' best opening of the first 45 minutes was a half-chance at best, although it would have been a popular scorer had it gone in: Jamie Sterry, making his first appearance for more than six weeks after injury worries, unleashed a shot that just cleared the Bradford bar.

Grant McCann made a quadruple substitution for the second half but it was one of the players who started who had a golden chance to equalise. Brandon Hanlan was picked out in the area with plenty of space just a few yards out but proceeded to fluff his lines with first an air-kick and then a close-range shot that was charged down by City stopper Joe Hilton.

Andy Cook uncharacteristically placed a shot wide of a post from a few yards for Bradford just after, before one of those aforementioned subs - Jordan Gibson - levelled up when his header took a nick off a defender on its way in.

Hanlan then made up for his earlier miss with a lovely dinked finish over the onrushing Hilton and then Gibson doubled his tally with an almost carbon copy of Hanlan's to complete the turnaround and complete a brace against his old club.

At least Rovers can now look forward to proper knock-out football from this point onwards.

Rovers: Lawlor, Sterry, McGrath, Flint, Senior, Close, Gotts, Straughan-Brown, Middleton, Hanlan, Ajayi

Substitutes: Molyneux (For Ajayi, 46); Nixon (For Sterry, 46); Broadbent (For Straughan-Brown, 46); Gibson (For Middleton, 46); Hodgett (For Gotts, 82).

Unused: Bryant, Williams

Man of the match: Jordan Gibson. Just loves playing against his old club. His brace here means all three of his strikes this term have come against City.