QUE Sera, Sera, Whatever Will Be, Will Be.

Supporters were treated to a selection of Doris Day songs prior to yesterday’s game at the request of a fan as part of the Boost the Budget initiative, though the famed American singer’s most famous ditty might have been better employed at full-time after Darlington’s surprise defeat.

They were expected to overcome a team that had started the season by conceding 18 goals in six games and found the net only once.

Yet Quakers, while having the ball for most of the match and creating more than enough chances, contrived to lose at home for the first time, the pain of defeat made more frustrating by Stephen Thompson missing a penalty in the 97th minute.

Adam Campbell rescued a point with an equaliser deep into injury-time on Saturday against an Altrincham team who finished with nine men and a winger in goal, a result which Darlington tried to take the positives from.

But it was difficult to do likewise yesterday bearing in mind Bradford came into the contest with only two points to their name, and Alun Armstrong did not mince his words.

“I thought it was really poor from start to finish,” said the manager. “It wasn’t good enough, there wasn’t enough cutting edge, we weren’t at the races like we normally are, we never had the intensity.

“You could mention the sun and the heat, but it was the same for them.

“They dug in, they had their plan, they sat back and let us have the ball and everything was too slow, we were taking three or four touches instead of one and two.

“We created enough opportunities but if you don’t take your chances you’re never going to win a game of football and we had enough to win two games.”

There had been a note of caution in Armstrong’s programme notes: “At Blyth we faced North Ferriby who were bottom of the league and were given no chance against us, but they beat us at home and away.”

The warning signs were there at an early stage when, twice inside the first three minutes Lewis Knight ran through, each time Darlington getting back to stifle the striker.

It took a while for Darlington to get into their stride, but they still forced chances.

Jarrett Rivers’ right-wing corner was headed just over by Justin Donawa, who had been recalled at the expensive of Tyrone O’Neill, after making a strong impact as a substitute on Saturday at Altrincham.

Campbell played as one of the three behind Donawa, who looked to have forced an opening when he chased a ball over the top, his pace getting him into a position ahead of Nelson Digbeu, but then lost his footing as he attempted to shoot.

Quakers’ first shot on target came when Will Hatfield created a yard and fired in an effort that was headed away before it reached goal, and while Bradford caused a few problems of their own it was nothing that Darlington could not deal with.

Campbell should have done better than to blast over after the ball dropped nicely following a move that began with Josh Heaton switching play with a cross-field pass, the Darlington substitute having come on for Terry Galbraith, who went off with a hamstring issue.

Quakers look most vulnerable when defending set-pieces, such as on Saturday when Altrincham scored, and it was from a Knight throw-in that Chris Elliott was forced into a save to tip away Digbeu’s header.

Hatfield made a rampaging run when he dispossessed Digbeu and charged into the penalty area before crossing just too high for Thompson, who headed over but it was enough to suggest Darlington could step up the tempo after the break.

Between bouts of Bradford’s time wasting, Darlington appeared to be largely in control with Thompson having a volley charged down after Rivers’ right-wing cross and Heaton headed wide after meeting David Atkinson’s free-kick.

A goal finally came on the hour, however, it was the visitors who got it, scoring their second goal this season with Quakers caught flatfooted.

Jahein Hedley seized on a through-ball after a goal kick and after advancing towards Elliott poked the ball under the goalkeeper. A simple goal, poor defending.

It meant Bradford had the lead in a match for the first time this season, and it was the fifth time out of seven Darlington had conceded first.

The lead may not have lasted long, O’Neil denied at close-range as Quakers attempted to fightback, something Bradford responded to by dawdling at restarts, leading to goalkeeper Rhys Taylor being booked for time wasting and Alex Hurst later went into the book for the same reason.

Quakers rallied in a frantic finish. Campbell had a shot blocked by Taylor and O’Neill headed wide from the corner, Hatfield had an attempted shot charged down and as Quakers increased the pressure Campbell’s volley was deflected wide.

Heaton was wide at a corner in added time and as Darlington had BPA pinned in their penalty area Campbell hit the post before came the golden opportunity: Thompson’s penalty.

It came after Hatfield was pushed, Thompson taking responsibility but his low strike hit the outside of the post and with it went Darlington’s chance of avoiding defeat.

Bradford manager Marcus Law admitted: “You know a bit of luck has got to go your way and at times it certainly did, but that doesn’t take away from our wholehearted, belief and want and will over 90 minutes. Defensive-wise and as a group we deserved something out of the game.”

Armstrong added: “Today is a real downer and probably the worst we have played. I can’t fault the lads for effort, but that is a gimmie with the group we’ve got. I expect it every week and it’ll not change.

“We created enough opportunities, 20 odd shots, we should be scoring when you have that many chances.

“You could say it was one of the days, but I don’t like saying that because that’s too easy. We had enough quality to score goals.”