COLCHESTER United conceded two stoppage-time goals to lose 2-0 at promotion-chasing Bradford City this afternoon, in front of watching new head coach Ben Garner.

Late strikes from Andy Cook and substitute Scott Banks sealed the Bantams' win, in front of a bumper crowd of more than 20,000 at the University of Bradford Stadium.

It was a harsh scoreline on Colchester, who deserved at least a point after an impressive display.

Colchester interim boss Ross Embleton made two changes to his starting line-up.

Ossama Ashley and Junior Tchamadeu both returned to the starting line-up, with Kwesi Appiah and Tommy Smith dropping out and Connor Hall skippering the side.

Colchester started brightly and almost went ahead in the ninth minute when former Bradford defender Connor Wood's header was well turned away for a corner by goalkeeper Harry Lewis, after Matt Jay had delivered a deep cross to the far post.

The U’s were the better side in the first half but the Bantams did have their moments and in the 20th minute, leading scorer Andy Cook just failed to get on the end of Adam Clayton's free-kick, after it had been headed on by Matty Platt.

But Colchester generally looked the more menacing and midway through the first half, Jay’s shot from the edge of the area flew straight into Lewis’s arms, after Wood had led a good U’s counter-attack.

The U’s best chance of the first half came five minutes before half-time.

Some good combination play between Jay and Arthur Read sent Hopper through on goal and he weaved past a Bradford defender before firing in a shot which was saved by Lewis.

There was still time before the end of the half for Wood's curled free-kick to deflect off a Bradford head before spinning just past the far post for a corner, as the teams went in goal-less at the break.

Colchester started the second half as they had finished the first, in the ascendency.

Read found space in the area but saw his shot deflected away for a corner while seconds later, Tom Hopper's header dropped inches past the post from Read's deep cross and then Tchamadeu's long-range effort flashed just past the upright.

But Bradford threatened after that and almost went ahead just before the hour when Ben Halliday's fine curled effort was brilliantly turned over the bar for a corner by Kieran O'Hara.

Cook then hooked wide from close range after Tchamadeu had inadvertently helped the ball into his path and Bradford came even closer to breaking the deadlock with 11 minutes remaining when Matty Platt's header from Adam Clayton's cross clattered a post.

But just when it looked like Colchester would secure a point, Cook headed home a corner from close range in the third minute of stoppage time.

And with the U's pushing forward in search of an equaliser, the Bantams wrapped up their win when substitute Banks slotted Cook's short pass confidently past O'Hara from close range with practically the last kick of the game, to leave Colchester beaten.

MATCH STATS: COLCHESTER UNITED: O’Hara, Greenidge, Kelleher, Hall, Tchamadeu, Wood, Ashley, Read (sub Newby, 90), Chilvers (sub Fevrier, 90), Jay (sub Akinde, 89), Hopper (sub Tovide, 82).

Subs (not used): Terry, Miranda, Smith.

Bradford City: Lewis, Halliday, Ridehalgh, Platt, Stubbs, Smallwood (sub Osadebe, 61), Walker, Gilliead (sub East, 61), Costelloe (sub Banks, 68), Clayton (sub Chapman, 86), Cook.

Subs (not used): Crichlow, Kelly, Doyle.

Referee: Tom Reeves.

Bookings: Bradford: Walker (foul, 44), Halliday (foul, 71), Ridehalgh (unsporting behaviour, 90). Colchester: Read (unsporting behaviour, 90).

Goals: Bradford: Cook (90), Banks (90).

Attendance: 20,383 (345 U's fans).