Sheffield Wednesday slipped to a 3-1 defeat at Bradford City in their maiden Papa Johns Trophy group fixture of the season.

Bantams striker Jake Young struck twice either side of a Michael Smith converted penalty before youngster Kian Harratt scored late to secure the points for Bradford in Group H.

Darren Moore opted to freshen up the squad for the trip to West Yorkshire and made 10 changes from the 5-0 win over Forest Green Rovers, with only Dominic Iorfa keeping his place in the line-up.

Loanee Alex Mighten was named in the starting XI for his debut and there was also a spot for Smith, who made his return from injury.

Following a low-key start, the Owls began to assert some authority on the game and looked a threat on going forward.

Will Vaulks, wearing the captain’s armband for the night, battled well to win possession before releasing Smith on the right, whose cross was well intercepted by Yann Songo’o with Callum Paterson making a menacing run to the near post.

Bradford grew into the game and Cameron Dawson was called into action midway through the first half to save at his near post from Young.

Songo’o then tested Dawson with a header at the back post from Harry Chapman’s feed as the hosts enjoyed a good spell in the game.

Young Wednesday defender David Agbontohoma made an excellent headed clearance to prevent ex-Owl Vadaine Oliver from getting on the end of a cross moments before the hosts edged in front.

Young collected possession on the left, cut inside on to his right foot and stroked the ball expertly inside the far post past the outstretched arms of Dawson.

Wednesday were immediately sparked into life and drew level almost instantly from the penalty spot.

Paterson was caught in a tangle of legs in the box and eventually went down under a challenge from Songo’o before Smith converted low past Harry Lewis in the Bradford goal.

Wednesday were quick out of the blocks in the second half and had a golden chance on 47 minutes when Paterson went through on goal but was denied by a good save from Lewis.

It was a much livelier start to the second period as Bradford also went close seconds later through Levi Sutton, who shot wide of Dawson’s near post after being slipped through by Chapman.

A hectic spell on the hour mark then saw both sides again go close.

First up, Oliver should have done better from close range but miscued his volley in the six-yard box before Wednesday surged upfield and Mallik Wilks went to lift the ball over Lewis but couldn’t get the necessary purchase on the strike.

Then 14 minutes from time, the Bantams regained their one-goal lead through Young.

Luke Hendrie played the ball into the path of the forward, who showed good footwork to come inside and poked the ball high past Dawson from close range.

Bradford had the win wrapped up seven minutes from time with Harratt sealing the victory.

Young was at the heart of the move once more, ghosting into the box on a hat-trick and the ball fell for Harratt to squeeze past Dawson and over the line.

Wednesday will next face Burton Albion in the Papa Johns Trophy on Tuesday 20 September in Group H before taking on Leicester Under-21s in mid-October.

Owls: Dawson, J Hunt (Glover 81), Iorfa (McGuinness 46), Agbontohoma (Galvin 46), James, Brown, A Hunt, Vaulks, Mighten (Davidson 81), Paterson, Smith (Wilks 46)