Sky Bet League 1
Bradford City 0
Sheffield United 2 (Harris 66, McNulty 82)
Kick Off: 5.15pm
at the Coral Windows Stadium
Attendance: 14,754 (1,993 visitors)
The Bantams were left cursing their luck after suffering a home defeat at the hands of Yorkshire neighbours Sheffield United in front of the Sky Sports cameras.
The Blades capitalised on Stephen Darby's dismissal only a few seconds after the restart to secure the away win thanks to strikes from left back Bob Harris and substitute striker Marc McNulty.
After being booked late in the first half for a foul on Stefan Scougall, Darby was harshsly adjudged to have tugged back Jamie Murphy less than eight seconds in the second period.
The Bantams skipper was given his marching orders as a result, leaving City a man short for virtually all of the half.
United took advantage of their extra man to take the lead through a fine finish from outside the box by Harris six minutes after the hour mark.
Despite their numerical disadvantage though, City responded with real purpose after going a goal down.
They went agonisingly close to equalising with just less than ten minutes left when Mark Yeates' cross was met by Jason Kennedy but the midfielder's free header from around six yards out crashed against the far post.
City were seemingly in the ascendancy at this stage but the game was amongst up for Phil Parkinson's men just a minute later, however, when a loose touch from Andrew Davies allowed McNulty to race clear on goal and finish past Jordan Pickford.
FT: Bradford City 0 Sheffield United 2
90+2min: YELLOW CARD - Davies is booked for bringing down Flynn as the substitute winger led a dangerous counter-attack deep inside City's half.
90+2min: Morais cuts inside from the left flank before fizzing in a low angled drive from just inside the area that Howard clings onto by his near post.
90min: There will be five minutes of time added on at the end of the match.
89min: YELLOW CARD - Yeates is booked for tugging back Basham inside United's half of the pitch.
87min: Yeates moves into the area before lofting a drive from a wide position away from Howard's clutches and onto the 'keeper's crossbar.
85min: SUB - United bring on Ryan Flynn for Campbell-Ryce.
84min: Morais strikes for goal from a wide position just outside the area and Howard pushes the rising drive around his near post.
82min: GOAL - Bradford City 0 Sheffield United 2 - Substitute McNulty doubles United's lead after taking advantage of a loose touch from Davies. With the ball coming to the central defender, Davies' control lets him down, allowing the ball to bobble over his foot and give McNulty a clear run on goal. The striker gladly snaps up the opportunity with both hands, coolly slotting past Pickford from just inside the box.
82min: Davies reaches up to head for goal from a corner shortly afterwards but his goal-bound header is directed away by Baxter a few yards from his own goal-line.
81min: Kennedy hits the post! A nice back-flick from Routis puts Yeates in the clear down City's right flank and the Irishman's cross finds an unmarked Kennedy, who heads against the far post with Howard beaten.
79min: SUB - United bring on Marc McNulty for Scougall.
77min: Howard produces a great reaction save to tip a Sheehan thunderbolt around the post! The Irishman lets rip with a fierce drive from just outside the box following the award of a City free-kick but the United shot-stopper gets two strong hands on the ball to push the effort away.
74min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Jon Stead for Hanson.
71min: Hanson leans back to reach Sheehan's outward-swinging corner delivery but his header for goal lacks the pace to trouble Howard, who gathers with ease.
69min: YELLOW CARD - Basham is booked for kicking the ball away after being caught offside.
68min: Campbell-Ryce drives into the area with menace looking to threaten City's goal. His initial strike for goal is blocked by McArdle before Davies before gets in the winger's path to finally see out the danger.
68min: McArdle appears to throw Scougall to the ground as the pair contest the ball in the box. City emerge away with the ball as the United bench and supporters appeal for a penalty but play continues.
66min: GOAL - Bradford City 0 Sheffield United 1 - Bob Harris fires United into the lead with a fine finish from outside the area. Murphy lays the ball off to the left back and he proceeds to curl a delightful strike into the far corner past Pickford's reach from around 20 yards out.
61min: Murphy cuts inside from a wide position onto his favoured right foot before firing in a drive from just outside the box that whistles narrowly wide of Pickford's goal, ticking the outside of the side-netting on its way past.
58min: The Bantams bring on Billy Knott for Clarke.
57min: Baxter goes down in the box looking for a penalty while under pressure from Yeates. Referee Mr Hooper decides not to award a spot-kick or book Baxter for simulation though, simply pointing for a goal-kick instead.
53min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Filipe Morais for Mclean, meaning City will now operate with a 4-4-1 formation.
49min: Craig Alcock heads wide at the far post following a United cross into the area.
49min: A quick United corner allows Baxter the time to send over a dangerous cross into the heart of City's penalty area. Basham comes steaming in to connect with the cross but Davies does enough to divert his header over the bar.
47min: Following Darby's red card, Davies has taken over the captain's armband. Routis has moved from his defensive midfield role to right back.
46min: YELLOW CARD = RED CARD - Darby is sent off literally less than 20 seconds into the second half! The Bantams skipper is given his second booking of the game for pulling back Murphy as the winger looked to burst away down City's right flank.
46min: Sheffield United restart the game.
HT: Bradford City 0 Sheffield United 0
45+3min: YELLOW CARD - Campbell-Ryce is booked for tugging back Sheehan just inside City's half of the pitch.
45min: There will be three minutes of time added on at the end of the first half.
44min: Sheehan's resulting low corner delivery flashes across the box, with a stretching Hanson just falling to make a significant touch on the ball in the middle.
44min: Yeates takes aim with a free-kick from just outside the box but his goal-bound effort goes behind via a flick off the United wall.
40min: YELLOW CARD - Stephen Darby is booked for a late sliding tackle on Stefan Scougall just inside Sheffield United's half of the field.
38min: Hanson manages to get his head onto Routis' long ball forward but the striker's header from just inside the box bounces kindly enough for Howard to gather up with some ease.
37min: With McArdle out of position trying to deal with the ball out wide, Murphy plays Baxter into a pocket of space inside the box but the attacker's low drive across goal from an angle is held low to his right by Pickford.
34min: A Sheehan corner causes panic in the United defence as City battle to keep the ball alive inside the Blades' box. Rory McArdle, Mclean and Yeates all try to trouble Howard in the United goal but the pressure eventually ends for the Bantams when Hanson is penalised for a foul on Basham as the pair tussle for possession of the ball.
32min: With City struggling to clear their lines following the resulting United corner, Baxter fires the ball with pace low across goal but the Bantams eventually manage to get the ball out of their box.
32min: The visitors appeal for a penalty when a Campbell-Ryce cross into the box seems to possibly strike Sheehan on the arm. As the ball goes out of play though, referee Mr Hooper elects to give a corner and not a spot-kick.
26min: Murphy takes a flat Howard goal-kick on his chest before turning and running towards City's penalty area. The winger then feeds Baxter into space wide of City's goal and the attacker's low angled drive from around 14 yards out is held by Pickford down to his right.
22min: SUB - With Jay McEveley seemingly suffering an injury to his arm after going for the ball in the air with James Hanson, the defender is taken off and replaced by Harrison McGahey.
18min: Complete with head bandage and numberless 'blood' shirt, Sheehan is now back on the pitch to bring the Bantams back up to their full compliment of players.
17min: Campbell-Ryce takes on Yeates in City's left back position before fizzing over a cross-come-shot that goes not too far away from the far top corner of Pickford's goal.
16min: City are temporarily down to ten men as Sheehan goes off the pitch to bandage up a bloody head wound.
12min: A quick United free-kick releases Baxter into shooting space inside the box but the attacker's goal-bound effort is blocked by the diving frame of Davies.
11min: Campbell-Ryce's cross into the area eventually drops into the path of Murphy but the winger's effort on the half-volley from the edge of the penalty area falls into Pickford's clutches.
10min: Jamal Campbell-Ryce shows his pace and trickery to get the better of Sheehan and Mark Yeates down City's left flank before surging into the box. Campbell-Ryce looks to pick a team-mate out in the middle but his cross is deflected behind by Andrew Davies.
9min: YELLOW CARD - Routis is booked for bundling into the back of Chris Basham as the United midfielder surged forward with menace into the Bantams half of the pitch.
6min: Jose Baxter leads a dangerous attack towards City's goal after Christopher Routis is robbed off the ball a few yards outside the Bantams' box. Baxter finds team-mate Jamie Murphy inside the area but the winger's strike lacks the power to beat Jordan Pickford, who clings onto the strike first time.
3min: Alan Sheehan tries his luck directly from a free-kick around 25 yards out but the left-back's effort bounces narrowly wide of Howard's near post.
1min: Aaron Mclean tries an early shot 20 seconds into the contest but his effort on the half-volley from a tight angle inside the box sails over Mark Howard's bar.
0min: The Bantams kick off the match. They will attack towards The Kop in the first half.
BRADFORD CITY LINE UP
Pickford, Darby, McArdle, Davies, Sheehan, Routis, Kennedy, Yeates, Clarke, Hanson, Mclean
Subs: Williams, Meredith, Dolan, Knott, Stead, Morais, Halliday
Bradford City cautions:
Routis (9), Darby (40, 46), Yeates (89), Davies (90+2)
Bradford City dismissals:
Darby (46)*
* As a result of two cautions
Bradford City changes:
Morais for Mclean (53), Knott for Clarke (58), Stead for Hanson (74)
SHEFFIELD UNITED LINE UP
Howard, Alcock, McCarthy, McEveley, Harris, Doyle, Campbell-Ryce, Basham, Scougall, Murphy, Baxter
Subs: Turner, Flynn, McNulty, Davies, McGahey, Porter, Reed
Sheffield United cautions:
Campbell-Ryce (45+3), Basham (69)
Sheffield United changes:
McGahey for McEveley (22), McNulty for Scougall (79), Flynn for Campbell-Ryce (85)
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: S Hooper
Assistant Referee: R Jones
Assistant Referee: W Smallwood
Fourth Official: G Sutton
90+2min: Morais cuts inside from the left flank before fizzing in a low angled drive from just inside the area that Howard clings onto by his near post.
90min: There will be five minutes of time added on at the end of the match.
89min: YELLOW CARD - Yeates is booked for tugging back Basham inside United's half of the pitch.
87min: Yeates moves into the area before lofting a drive from a wide position away from Howard's clutches and onto the 'keeper's crossbar.
85min: SUB - United bring on Ryan Flynn for Campbell-Ryce.
84min: Morais strikes for goal from a wide position just outside the area and Howard pushes the rising drive around his near post.
82min: GOAL - Bradford City 0 Sheffield United 2 - Substitute McNulty doubles United's lead after taking advantage of a loose touch from Davies. With the ball coming to the central defender, Davies' control lets him down, allowing the ball to bobble over his foot and give McNulty a clear run on goal. The striker gladly snaps up the opportunity with both hands, coolly slotting past Pickford from just inside the box.
82min: Davies reaches up to head for goal from a corner shortly afterwards but his goal-bound header is directed away by Baxter a few yards from his own goal-line.
81min: Kennedy hits the post! A nice back-flick from Routis puts Yeates in the clear down City's right flank and the Irishman's cross finds an unmarked Kennedy, who heads against the far post with Howard beaten.
79min: SUB - United bring on Marc McNulty for Scougall.
77min: Howard produces a great reaction save to tip a Sheehan thunderbolt around the post! The Irishman lets rip with a fierce drive from just outside the box following the award of a City free-kick but the United shot-stopper gets two strong hands on the ball to push the effort away.
74min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Jon Stead for Hanson.
71min: Hanson leans back to reach Sheehan's outward-swinging corner delivery but his header for goal lacks the pace to trouble Howard, who gathers with ease.
69min: YELLOW CARD - Basham is booked for kicking the ball away after being caught offside.
68min: Campbell-Ryce drives into the area with menace looking to threaten City's goal. His initial strike for goal is blocked by McArdle before Davies before gets in the winger's path to finally see out the danger.
68min: McArdle appears to throw Scougall to the ground as the pair contest the ball in the box. City emerge away with the ball as the United bench and supporters appeal for a penalty but play continues.
66min: GOAL - Bradford City 0 Sheffield United 1 - Bob Harris fires United into the lead with a fine finish from outside the area. Murphy lays the ball off to the left back and he proceeds to curl a delightful strike into the far corner past Pickford's reach from around 20 yards out.
61min: Murphy cuts inside from a wide position onto his favoured right foot before firing in a drive from just outside the box that whistles narrowly wide of Pickford's goal, ticking the outside of the side-netting on its way past.
58min: The Bantams bring on Billy Knott for Clarke.
57min: Baxter goes down in the box looking for a penalty while under pressure from Yeates. Referee Mr Hooper decides not to award a spot-kick or book Baxter for simulation though, simply pointing for a goal-kick instead.
53min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Filipe Morais for Mclean, meaning City will now operate with a 4-4-1 formation.
49min: Craig Alcock heads wide at the far post following a United cross into the area.
49min: A quick United corner allows Baxter the time to send over a dangerous cross into the heart of City's penalty area. Basham comes steaming in to connect with the cross but Davies does enough to divert his header over the bar.
47min: Following Darby's red card, Davies has taken over the captain's armband. Routis has moved from his defensive midfield role to right back.
46min: YELLOW CARD = RED CARD - Darby is sent off literally less than 20 seconds into the second half! The Bantams skipper is given his second booking of the game for pulling back Murphy as the winger looked to burst away down City's right flank.
46min: Sheffield United restart the game.
HT: Bradford City 0 Sheffield United 0
45+3min: YELLOW CARD - Campbell-Ryce is booked for tugging back Sheehan just inside City's half of the pitch.
45min: There will be three minutes of time added on at the end of the first half.
44min: Sheehan's resulting low corner delivery flashes across the box, with a stretching Hanson just falling to make a significant touch on the ball in the middle.
44min: Yeates takes aim with a free-kick from just outside the box but his goal-bound effort goes behind via a flick off the United wall.
40min: YELLOW CARD - Stephen Darby is booked for a late sliding tackle on Stefan Scougall just inside Sheffield United's half of the field.
38min: Hanson manages to get his head onto Routis' long ball forward but the striker's header from just inside the box bounces kindly enough for Howard to gather up with some ease.
37min: With McArdle out of position trying to deal with the ball out wide, Murphy plays Baxter into a pocket of space inside the box but the attacker's low drive across goal from an angle is held low to his right by Pickford.
34min: A Sheehan corner causes panic in the United defence as City battle to keep the ball alive inside the Blades' box. Rory McArdle, Mclean and Yeates all try to trouble Howard in the United goal but the pressure eventually ends for the Bantams when Hanson is penalised for a foul on Basham as the pair tussle for possession of the ball.
32min: With City struggling to clear their lines following the resulting United corner, Baxter fires the ball with pace low across goal but the Bantams eventually manage to get the ball out of their box.
32min: The visitors appeal for a penalty when a Campbell-Ryce cross into the box seems to possibly strike Sheehan on the arm. As the ball goes out of play though, referee Mr Hooper elects to give a corner and not a spot-kick.
26min: Murphy takes a flat Howard goal-kick on his chest before turning and running towards City's penalty area. The winger then feeds Baxter into space wide of City's goal and the attacker's low angled drive from around 14 yards out is held by Pickford down to his right.
22min: SUB - With Jay McEveley seemingly suffering an injury to his arm after going for the ball in the air with James Hanson, the defender is taken off and replaced by Harrison McGahey.
18min: Complete with head bandage and numberless 'blood' shirt, Sheehan is now back on the pitch to bring the Bantams back up to their full compliment of players.
17min: Campbell-Ryce takes on Yeates in City's left back position before fizzing over a cross-come-shot that goes not too far away from the far top corner of Pickford's goal.
16min: City are temporarily down to ten men as Sheehan goes off the pitch to bandage up a bloody head wound.
12min: A quick United free-kick releases Baxter into shooting space inside the box but the attacker's goal-bound effort is blocked by the diving frame of Davies.
11min: Campbell-Ryce's cross into the area eventually drops into the path of Murphy but the winger's effort on the half-volley from the edge of the penalty area falls into Pickford's clutches.
10min: Jamal Campbell-Ryce shows his pace and trickery to get the better of Sheehan and Mark Yeates down City's left flank before surging into the box. Campbell-Ryce looks to pick a team-mate out in the middle but his cross is deflected behind by Andrew Davies.
9min: YELLOW CARD - Routis is booked for bundling into the back of Chris Basham as the United midfielder surged forward with menace into the Bantams half of the pitch.
6min: Jose Baxter leads a dangerous attack towards City's goal after Christopher Routis is robbed off the ball a few yards outside the Bantams' box. Baxter finds team-mate Jamie Murphy inside the area but the winger's strike lacks the power to beat Jordan Pickford, who clings onto the strike first time.
3min: Alan Sheehan tries his luck directly from a free-kick around 25 yards out but the left-back's effort bounces narrowly wide of Howard's near post.
1min: Aaron Mclean tries an early shot 20 seconds into the contest but his effort on the half-volley from a tight angle inside the box sails over Mark Howard's bar.
0min: The Bantams kick off the match. They will attack towards The Kop in the first half.
BRADFORD CITY LINE UP
Pickford, Darby, McArdle, Davies, Sheehan, Routis, Kennedy, Yeates, Clarke, Hanson, Mclean
Subs: Williams, Meredith, Dolan, Knott, Stead, Morais, Halliday
Bradford City cautions:
Routis (9), Darby (40, 46), Yeates (89), Davies (90+2)
Bradford City dismissals:
Darby (46)*
* As a result of two cautions
Bradford City changes:
Morais for Mclean (53), Knott for Clarke (58), Stead for Hanson (74)
SHEFFIELD UNITED LINE UP
Howard, Alcock, McCarthy, McEveley, Harris, Doyle, Campbell-Ryce, Basham, Scougall, Murphy, Baxter
Subs: Turner, Flynn, McNulty, Davies, McGahey, Porter, Reed
Sheffield United cautions:
Campbell-Ryce (45+3), Basham (69)
Sheffield United changes:
McGahey for McEveley (22), McNulty for Scougall (79), Flynn for Campbell-Ryce (85)
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: S Hooper
Assistant Referee: R Jones
Assistant Referee: W Smallwood
Fourth Official: G Sutton