IN HIS interview post-match, Nathan Byrne admitted he is not a big fan of defending. In requesting the number 10 shirt for this season, he has made it perfectly clear where he feels his strengths lie and on Saturday against Bradford City, he went about proving it.

Three goals that demonstrated why Byrne is one of the most potent attacking forces in League One turned what was becoming a miserable afternoon for Town fans into a source of hope.

The former Tottenham youngster demonstrated his pace, sleight of foot and clinical finishing to spook the Bantams’ defence and probably that of many others in the division.

Bradford were by far the better side in the opening half. The quality and number of chances they created after Aaron Morris gave them the lead after four minutes could have seen them in an unassailable position.

Lawrence Vigouroux’s penalty stop to deny Billy Clarke was pivotal. Had City punished Nathan Thompson for his clumsy trip, Byrne’s heroics might never have materialised.

Instead, a change of tactics at the interval allowed Byrne more room to roam, with Town’s midfield three sitting a little deeper to provide a platform for their diminutive dangerman.

The equaliser was an inventive piece of finishing, Byrne using the outside of his boot to curl the ball around Jonathan Obika and City keeper Ben Williams and inside the back post to bring about parity.

Some may prefer the skill and technique for his third, but the second was the better goal.

Kevin Stewart nicked the ball in midfield and steamed towards the City box.Byrne ran around the back of him like a greyhound and collected the Liverpool loanee’s pass in his stride before placing home.

The third was all about skill as Byrne weaved his way across the Bradford back line and unleashed a firm strike through the keeper’s legs.

By the time Obika turned smartly on Jordan Turnbull’s pass to add a fourth, City were broken.

The result serves as a tonic to fans who feared the worst, not just at half-time, but over a summer where they have seen their play-off final side broken up.

One win does not mean everything is all rosy in the Town garden. However, doubts over their tactical flexibility have been eased and they are still capable of scoring goals; both big question marks prior to kick-off.

Credit also to Mark Cooper and assistant Luke Williams for acting to make a change at the break, devising an oft-discussed ‘plan b’ shows they are willing to learn from their mistakes.

When the teamsheets came out, it confirmed fans would get a chance to see some new faces in competitive action.

Jordan Turnbull started to make his second debut for the Robins, along with Jordan Williams, Kevin Stewart, Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill and Lawrence Vigouroux.

Having played in defence for most of pre-season, Williams was moved into midfield as Cooper opted to include Raphael Branco alongside Turnbull in the back four.

New signing Drissa Traore’s competitive debut will have to wait - the Ivorian did not recover from his hamstring injury in time to make Cooper’s 18, though he could be fit for Bury next weekend.

After a bright opening where Town got off two decent attempts on goal, albeit from distance, they were stunned by an outstanding strike from Morris in just the fourth minute.

James Hanson and Rory McArdle worked a good position from a throw-in on the right, allowing the former time to find the unmarked Morris on the edge of the box. From here, the Bradford man made no mistake as he arrowed his effort into the top left-hand corner.

Bradford were on top and looked dangerous whenever they came forward down either flank.

Town were to suffer a real scare from a Bantams attack from the left with just over a quarter of an hour gone and they had debutant keeper Vigouroux to thank for keeping them in the contest.

Thompson, who was playing right back like someone with GSCE French trying to order a Royale with Cheese in a Parisian McDonalds, clumsily brought down Morris on far right of the box.

Clarke, the busy, technical number 10, stepped up, but his spot-kick was dire. Weak and at a comfortable height, Vigouroux had little problem turning the ball behind for a corner.

Clarke’s confidence was not to be dimmed by such a blow. Continuing to flit around City’s Mr. Big - Hanson - the little man almost scored a spectacular second.

Turnbull surrendered the ball near halfway and Clarke, spotting Vigouroux off his line, went to for an audacious lob from 45 yards. The keeper was well beaten and must have been very relieved to see the ball drop tantalisingly wide.

Town offered very little as an attacking threat. Any danger was going to come from the delicate feet of Fabien Robert, who replaced Jermaine Hylton with 11 minutes gone. The former Redditch man disappeared down the tunnel clutching his shoulder.

The Frenchman came on and swanned about the midfield causing trouble wherever he went. One piece of link-up with Byrne in particular caught the eye and would have provided an early contender for goal of the season if Robert could have finished it off. As it was, City bundled it behind for corner.

Sadly, that was pretty much as good as it got for Swindon, whose only other effort came from range.

The Bantams, on the other hand, persistently exposed the Robins’ new-look defence. Billy Knott, Morris and Clarke were given too much space by Swindon’s holding midfield, with Hanson bullying Branco.

Knott was next to go close. With Thompson out of position on the right, Knott was able to get in behind and shoot goalward. His effort was wide, but Morris, sliding in at the far post, almost turned it home as the ball skimmed his studs.

After the break, the story was vastly different. All of the visitors’ neat play and cohesion disappeared as Byrne took control.

The shift to 3-5-2 gave Town the control they lacked in the first half and allowed them to maximise Byrne’s threat.

It paid off in double-quick time. Within 25 minutes of referee Steve Martin whistling the second period away, Swindon had scored four and had their first three points of the season were in the bank.

This was as good an opening day test as almost any in a League One not abundant with quality this year. Whilst no one wins the league on day one, plenty make their intentions clear.