Lacklustre Colchester United fell to a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Bradford City.

James Hanson and Kyle Bennett helped Phil Parkinson return to his former club and inflict defeat on the U’s, at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Colchester were disappointing in the first half and went in trailing at the break.

And although they improved in the second half and enjoyed more possession in the Bradford half, they were unable to make any impression on the City goal.

U’s goalkeeper Sam Walker palmed away Nathan Doyle’s low first-time effort but from the resultant corner, Hanson powerfully headed in Matthew Dolan’s corner to give Bradford a 15th-minute lead.

McLean tested Walker just after the half hour and the Hull loanee should have doubled City’s lead just before half-time when he blasted a gilt-edged chance wide, after Kyle Bennett had dispossessed Ryan Dickson.

Hanson’s downward header dropped just wide just after the break before Bradford doubled their lead ten minutes into the second half when Bennett burst into the area and planted a shot into the far corner from a tight angle.

Walker denied Adam Reach after the hour mark, as Phil Parkinson claimed a well-deserved win at his old club.

For a full match report and pictures from the U’s game with Bradford City, see Wednesday’s Daily Gazette.