Bradford City 0-2 Mansfield Town

Mark Hughes has taken over as Bradford boss on a two-and-a-half year contract

Mark Hughes' first game as Bradford manager ended in defeat as Mansfield extended their unbeaten run to 13 matches with victory in front of a bumper 16,797 crowd at the Utilita Energy Stadium.

The former Wales and Manchester City boss was a surprise choice to succeeded Derek Adams who was sacked last week and has returned to his old club Morecambe.

Hughes, who had been out of management since leaving Southampton three years ago, received a standing ovation as he took his seat in the dugout, but Mansfield spoiled the party mood as Bradford slipped to their fourth defeat in a row.

"I loved every minute of it. It's been a long time since I've been in charge of a group of players on a matchday at 3pm on Saturday. I really enjoyed it, notwithstanding the result obviously," he said.

"I saw things I was encouraged by, other things less so. But it's about making sure we emphasize the elements of our play we need to improve and then we'll get better.

"That's why today's game was really important. It's given me a better insight in terms of what I've got to work with, maybe some of the weaknesses and the strengths.

"It was a good exercise in terms of having a better understanding of the group."

Both sides had shots blocked in their opponents' boxes before Mansfield took the lead a minute before half-time. A long clearance was headed into the path of Rhys Oates, who broke clear before firing into the far corner of the net.

The visitors went further in front two minutes after the interval when the Bradford defence failed to clear Stephen Quinn's low cross.

The ball fell to Matt Longstaff, on loan from Newcastle, and his close-range shot was deflected past Alex Bass, leaving the Bantams keeper wrong-footed.

Bradford enjoyed plenty of possession as they tried to salvage something from the game, their best effort coming in the 88th minute when leading scorer and former Mansfield striker Andy Cook's close-range header was brilliantly turned over the bar by keeper Nathan Bishop.

Mansfield always carried a threat in attack and Bass did well to turn Jamie Murphy's shot behind for a corner.

On Hughes' new role, Stags boss Nigel Clough said: "It is a brilliant appointment for Bradford and brilliant for League Two. He will find it tough, but it's tough everywhere."

Report supplied by PA Media.