After the supporters led Swindon to a thrilling 5–4 victory over 10-man Bradford at the County Ground, Ian Holloway, the team’s manager, was full of admiration for them.
Within 35 minutes, Calum Kavanagh’s hat-trick had the Bantams up 3-1, but Richie Smallwood’s early departure was important as Swindon equalised before Jack Shepherd’s own goal in stoppage time.
“I was proud of the supporters,” Holloway remarked. When we had a horrible start like that and were two down, nobody complained.
Because of that distinction, I was able to take action and the boys were able to avoid going too far before thinking we could score.
The supporters had to do it even though the boys deserved it, and that meant a lot to them.
“We allowed two goals against ten men, which is usually unacceptable for us managers, but we won and continued our winning streak.”
After barely six minutes, Brad Halliday’s long throw was poked home by Kavanagh, giving the visitors the lead.
The Bantams doubled their lead four minutes later as Kavanagh poked home after the ball fell into his path following a mix-up at the back.
But Smallwood’s vicious lunge on Paul Glatzel saw the defender receive a straight red in the 14th minute.
Town made the most of it when Billy Kirkman drove into the box and his low centre was touched in by defender Neill Byrne.
But Bradford restored the two-goal cushion when Town again failed to clear another Halliday long throw and Kavanagh snuck in to grab his hat-trick.
Town pulled a goal back just before the break after Kabongo Tshimanga slid in at the far post.
Harry Smith then levelled with an emphatic finish in the 62nd minute only for Halliday to slot home a rebound to put Bradford back in front.
However, Smith equalised again with a far-post header before Shepherd’s botched clearance gifted Swindon a stunning win.
Bantams boss Graham Alexander, who was shown a yellow card after protesting Smallwood’s dismissal, was left bitterly disappointed.
He said: “I’m just really gutted for the players and the supporters that we didn’t win that game, when we should have won that game.
“Two-nil up, you know what we’re like when we’re in that position, our record is phenomenal. But it’s gone against us.”
But Alexander looked on the bright side as he praised their attitude after the sending off.
He added: “The spirit and the commitment of the players – even when it went to 3-3 with 10 men – other teams I think would have buckled at that point but we go up the other end and we score another goal.
“The endeavour and the team ethic of these players is frightening at times but unfortunately we could not see it through to the end.
“I am always proud of these players.”
