Wrexham 1-1 Bradford City (3-4 pens): Bantams edge Dragons in penalty shootout

Tyler Smith's first-half penalty was his first goal for Bradford since joining in June

Bradford City reached the third round of the Carabao Cup as they beat Wrexham on penalties.

Tyler Smith's third-minute spot-kick had put the Bantams ahead after Aaron Hayden brought down Jamie Walker.

Will Boyle headed Wrexham level in the second half to delight another full house at the Stok Racecourse.

But the home fans were ultimately disappointed as Luke Young and James Jones missed their penalties in the shootout to send Bradford through.

Goalkeeper Harry Lewis was the hero for the Bantams, saving Jones' effort after Wrexham's Mark Howard had done the same to deny Bradford substitute Dan Oyegoke.

It was a happy return to Wrexham for visiting manager Mark Hughes, who was born and raised in nearby Ruabon and scored an iconic volley on this ground for Wales in a 3-0 win over Spain in 1985.

There was also added significance to this fixture for Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson, who took Bradford to the League Cup final during his five years at Valley Parade.

He made five changes to his Wrexham side from Saturday's league draw at Barrow and it was one of those recalled, influential defender Hayden, who conceded the early penalty.

Making his first start of the season after injury, Hayden seemed to get the ball when he challenged Walker, but referee Ben Speedie pointed to the spot and Smith calmly converted.

Wrexham had chances to equalising before the break as Ben Tozer had a header deflected on to the crossbar and Sam Dalby was denied by a superb point-blank save by Lewis.

Bradford started the second half well - with Brad Halliday and Emmanuel Osadebe both wasting glorious opportunities - but the momentum swung back towards the hosts when they brought on star summer signing James McClean, striker Ollie Palmer and top scorer Elliot Lee.

Wrexham levelled when Boyle headed in from Young's inswinging corner and the goal sparked a period of sustained pressure from the home side, but that came to no avail as the game went to penalties.

Young pulled Wrexham's first spot-kick wide, whereas Bradford scored their first four through Matt Derbyshire, Richie Smallwood, Adam Wilson and Halliday.

Lee, Palmer and McClean then converted Wrexham's next three. While Howard then saved from Oyegoke to give the home side hope, it was opposition keeper Lewis who had the final say as he dived low to his left to deny Jones.

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson:

"It was a very good performance from us after the start. I thought we played some really good football and certainly in the second half we had them pinned in for long periods.

"In terms of our performance and the intensity and the quality of our play, I thought it was good. I'm disappointed not to win on penalties but I felt the performance from us over 90 minutes warranted us to go through."

On Bradford's penalty: "For an absolutely nothing incident, the ref has given the penalty. There were four players between him and the incident, and he's told me it was him who gave it.

"There's no way he could have so he's clearly guessed. I feel a bit aggrieved by how that decision has come about but we have to take it on the chin and the lads responded really well."

Bradford manager Mark Hughes:

"I thought we deserved it on the night. I thought we created more clear-cut chances through good creative play.

"They seemed to have a lot of opportunities to put balls in the box and we defended them really well, which you have to here because you know how they're going to play.

"I think apart from one good save in the first half, when Harry [Lewis] saved with his shins, we had the better chances."