Image source, Rex Features

Four games without a win and defeats at Walsall and Harrogate had a few shuffling uncomfortably in their seats at Valley Parade but this performance will surely have put smiles back on faces.

Goal machine is an overused phrase but it describes Andy Cook in a Bradford shirt perfectly.

A 70th EFL goal in just 138 starts got things going and, despite Kyle Hudlin's leveller Jamie Walker and Bobby Pointon secured a well deserved three points and a place in League Two's top 10.

Newport don't like travelling to Bradford as tonight's defeat makes it just one win from 10 trips to West Yorkshire and a missed chance to push into the top seven. It's also eight defeats from nine on the road for the Welshmen.

That brings down the curtain on this EFL weekend, see you Saturday!

Image source, PA Media

Newport County head coach Nelson Jardim speaking to Sky Sports: "Not the result we wanted but when we look at the game, I thought we were good. I could see a lot of improvements from the other away games.

"I guess coming back into the game in the period where I felt we were the better team, conceding that goal felt a little bit unfair.

"And of course the third goal was coming in a period where we lost our shape.

"Overall, I don't think it's a two-goal difference game. It's a defeat but there's a lot of positives that I've seen and obviously little details to make sure we get right."

On the game finishing in a disappointing way: "Yeah, very [disappointing], especially the way we conceded the second goal. I thought we were the better team at that point, we were controlling the game.

"We were punished by one little detail that decided the game."

Image source, PA Media

Bradford City manager Graham Alexander told BBC Radio Leeds:

"It's obvious that we've been missing players. Players have been thrust in a little bit undercooked maybe and have had to find their feet, but I thought they were superb tonight.

"We've got Neill Byrne back and gone back to our familiar formation which we worked so hard on at the end of last season and in pre-season.

"I thought we were magnificent tonight. I thought the first-half was the best we've played.

"It was really good, we were so aggressive, really proactive, created lots of chances, scored a good goal and well worth the lead at half-time.

"They came into it, which we thought they might and scored the equaliser and I thought that sparked us into life. The subs that came on made a great impact and looked after the ball better.

"And we deserved the win. The two goals we scored in the second-half were of brilliant quality."

Image source, Opta

Newport missed the chance to move into the promotion places with that defeat and, as a result, Bradford have jumped above them in the table and now have their own designs on the top seven.

The Bantams travel to 17th-placed Tranmere on Saturday, while Newport have another trip to Yorkshire as they face Harrogate.

Bradford City's Bobby Pointon speaking to Sky Sports about his goal tonight: "It means a lot. You’ve got to come on and make a difference. It’s special to score in front of the Kop End as well. It’s always the best end to score in front of."

On it being a win to push on for the rest of the season: "Definitely. It’s a good start."

Bradford City striker Andy Cook speaking to Sky Sports: "It was massive. We've come off a couple of bad results the last few games and being at home, we needed to put it right and we started off well."

On playing alongside Bobby Pointon: "It’s brilliant. He’s come on and was different class. A local lad and seeing him do well is brilliant."

Rob Phillips
BBC Wales Football Correspondent at Valley Parade

If anything the Newport equalised galvanised the home side and two goals in 10 minutes put them in command.

They even had time to give a debut to recent recruit, the Northern Ireland international Corey Evans and extend their unbeaten home run while ending a sequence of four League Two games without a win.

Mark Bower
Former Bradford City defender on BBC Radio Leeds

Image source, Rex Features

Bradford were by far the better team in the first-half and were well on top.

In the second-half, Newport came out and we knew they weren't going to make it as easy as the first-half and they had a good spell and created some chances.

But Tyler Smith and Bobby Pointon coming on made a big difference.

Over the whole 90 minutes, City were by far the better team and deserved the win.

Image source, Rex Features

A first win for Bradford in five League Two matches and an end to Newport's two game winning run.

It was all about the quality of crossing from both sides.

Andy Cook had Bradford in front at the break, heading home a pinpoint effort from Jay Benn's cross as Newport found it hard to get going in that first-half.

But someone forgot to tell Bradford the second-half had started as the Welshmen created six very good chances but took just one of them as Kyle Hudlin thumped in a header from an excellent Kieron Evans delivery.

When you're on top, so they say, make sure you capitalise but Newport didn't and allowed Bradford back into it.

Graham Alexander reacted to the Newport equaliser by making two changes and one of them, Bobby Pointon, supplied the cross for Jamie Walker to slot in from the edge of the area.

2-1 became 3-1 five minutes from the end as this time Pointon got himself on the scoresheet, converting another Jay Benn cross.

Mark Bower
Former Bradford City defender on BBC Radio Leeds

It's a difficult one [to decide man of the match] as there have been some good performances. I think Jamie Walker.

He was involved in the first goal, scores the second and is involved in the third. I think on a night like tonight when you get on the ball, you can see his quality.

We're into five minutes of time added on by referee Ben Toner.

Corry Evans' last game of football was for Northern Ireland against Andorra back in June.

Bradford might not have been on his list of possible destinations after his Sunderland exit but, on a short-term deal, on he comes for Jamie Walker.

Scotsman Walker departs to a big ovation from the home fans

Jack Shepherd gets a yellow card for time wasting for Bradford.

Nelson Jardim reacts to Bradford's goals by introducing Michael Spellman for the final few minutes with Bobby Kamwa the man to make way.

It looks long way back for Newport now, and that's not just the journey back to South Wales...

Mark Bower
Former Bradford City defender on BBC Radio Leeds

You have got to give Graham Alexander credit, the changes certainly made the difference and Bobby Pointon is at the heart of that.

The finish is genius. He uses the pace of the ball and the outside of the foot to guide it into the corner.

For a young player to finish like that is outstanding.

You won't see many goals like that, not slashing at it, just using the pace of the ball. That is quality. You can't teach that, that's just in you.

Neill Byrne returned to fitness for the Bradford side today and has been integral to a decent defensive performance but his night's work is done and Lewis Richards replaces him.

Ciaran Brennan gets on the end of another Newport cross but his header flies over the bar.

Newport have certainly been more of a threat in this second-half, creating six very good chances of which they've taken one - the trouble is they're now 2-1 down.

Jamie Raynor
BBC Radio Leeds commentator

It has been a great game of football. City are looking to get their first win in five league games and climb up to ninth...

But Newport will still feel they are in this game. They will feel they've done enough in this second half to think a point would be a fair return.

Kyle Hudlin's night is over as he takes his leave and Courtney Baker-Richardson is on for Newport - can he rescue the Welshmen?