Hughes loses first game in dugout since 2018 as Bradford reign starts in defeat

Mark Hughes endured a sobering return to the dugout as his first game in charge of Bradford City ended in defeat.

Hughes today took charge of his first match as a manager since December 2018. His last game was a draw against Manchester United - the final act of his time as boss of Premier League side Southampton.

But Hughes' first game back saw the out-of-sorts Bantams lose 2-0 at home to Mansfield Town in League Two.

A bumper crowd turned out at Valley Parade but the vast majority of the 16,797 in attendance went home unhappy.

The result leaves Bradford a whopping 12 points adrift of the play-off places.

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Goals either side of half-time from Rhys Oates and Newcastle loanee Matty Longstaff secured the points for Nigel Clough's side, who move up to sixth place.

Reflecting on his first game in charge, Hughes told the BBC : "The day itself, notwithstanding the result obviously, I've enjoyed every minute.

"It's great to be back. I got a welcoming reception from everybody here and hopefully we'll be able to repay that.

"We need to cut out individual errors, which led to their goals.

"Mansfield are an accomplished side and are playing with a lot of confidence at the moment which we are not at the moment.

"We'll endeavour to change that by the end of the season and see where it takes us next year. I've only been here two or three days but today was really important for me to see how we approach a matchday.

"I'm really looking forward to getting a good week's work in and then hopefully people can see an inkling of where we will be in the future."

Hughes, whose only previous club jobs had all been in the top flight, signed a two-and-a-half year contract with City.

Upon his unveiling, Hughes said: "It's an opportunity for me to develop. It's not a level I'm used to operating at, but I'm intrigued to see how my skillset transfers.

"It's a league that's demanding, I understand that.

"Physically it asks questions of players and managers alike. At times it's a bit of a slog, you've got to get through the hard work, that's a given. But that doesn't faze me. That didn't faze me as a player, that doesn't faze me as a manager.

"I am here for a reason: to make Bradford City a team people want to come and watch - and are proud to watch."

Hughes' next assignment is another home game against a side occupying a play-off spot, when Swindon Town visit next Saturday.