Blast from the past for brilliant Bantams
Gus Poyet’s team went the way of Chelsea, beaten at Stamford Bridge by Phil Parkinson’s League One side in the last round, thanks to an own goals from John O’Shea and the former Sunderland striker Jon Stead.
Parkinson is no stranger to Wembley of course, having led Bradford to the League Cup Final two years ago after wins over Wigan, Arsenal and Aston Villa.
But even if Bradford boasts an abiding connection with the FA Cup – the current trophy was crafted in the Yorkshire city in 1911 and Bradford were the first club to lift it later that year – another Wembley appearance, in the world’s oldest and most famous domestic cup competition, would surely be one for the ages.
“I suppose I’ve got to guard against that for the next few weeks,” said Parkinson. “I’ll have to play that down when we’re playing at Orient on Tuesday and make sure we focus on the league games but this is great for everybody.
“This was another terrific day for the club. For those who have been here to sample the atmosphere, with 24,000 here at Valley Parade, it’s like a throwback to the old days of the FA Cup and the lads revelled in it.”
The hosts dominated from start to finish against a Poyet line-up that showed little enthusiasm for the sub-par playing surface, feisty opposition and an electrifying atmosphere, even if they felt referee Kevin Friend wronged them by refusing a first-half penalty after a Rory McArdle tackle on Steven Fletcher.
By that stage, Bradford led from a third-minute opening goal when Filipe Morais sent over a right-wing free-kick which was half cleared by Wes Brown, the ball reaching Billy Clarke at the far post whose eight-yard drive flew past the stationary Vito Mannone via a deflection off O’Shea.
By the time Stead made it 2-0 after 61 minutes, the visiting supporters were in open revolt against their manager. Adam Johnson’s disastrous clearance was headed to Stead by James Hanson for a six-yard shot which squirmed under Vito Mannone.
“It was an easy decision,” complained Poyet of the penalty appeal. “He was in the right position, he saw it. I can’t do anything about that.
“No, this is not the low-point of my career. I haven’t been in the bottom three once this year, I was last year.
“I played football so know what a cup-tie like this means for Bradford City. That’s why the FA Cup is the best competition in the world. But I am not going to comment about the fans.”
Despite Poyet’s claims to the contrary, Sunderland were clearly unsettled by the physicality, determination and enthusiasm of their League One opponents, summed up in the seventh minute when McArdle made a strong headed challenge on Danny Graham and the benches needed to be separated as Poyet and his coaching staff remonstrated with their Bradford counterparts.
Bradford could have extended their lead in an exhilarating tie as Stead’s header across the six-yard area was almost turned in by Morais and Hanson’s powerful and skilful run ended in a shot which was well parried by Mannone.
At the other end, Ben Williams saved at close range from Johnson and the first half concluded with a swerving Patrick van Aanholt shot which the Bradford keeper managed to block before his team-mate Billy Knott completed the clearance.
Sunderland’s improvement continued into the second half with former England international Johnson narrowly clearing the bar with a lobbed attempt as Williams rushed from his line.
But that miss would prove pivotal as Bradford claimed their decisive second goal moments later. Late in proceedings, Billy Knott and Stead, again, were close to adding to yet another unforgettable Bradford cup occasion and an even more emphatic scoreline would not have flattered the hosts.
Bradford (4–3-1-2): Williams 8; Darby 7, McArdle 8, Davies 7, Meredith 7; Morais 8, Liddle 8, Knott 7 (Halliday 78, 6); Clarke 8 (Yeates 86); Stead 9 (Zoko 88), Hanson 8.
Sunderland (4-4-2): Mannone 5; Jones 6 (Vergini 86), O’Shea 5, Brown 6, van Aanholt 6; Alvarez 5 (Honeyman 86), Larsson 6, Bridcutt 5, Johnson 5; Fletcher 6, Graham 5 (Wickham 45, 6).
Referee: K Friend.
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