Bradford stun Ipswich - report

Ipswich 1 Bradford 2

Cash-strapped Bradford came from behind to stun European hopefuls Ipswich at Portman Road.

The Yorkshire club’s chairman Gordon Gibb hopes to announce that they are out of administration by Thursday, the same day that George Burley’s side face Luxembourg’s Avenir Beggen in a UEFA Cup qualifying round second leg tie.

Despite the disparity in the two clubs’ money-pulling potential, however, Bradford more than held their own and snatched the points late on.

Relegated Ipswich were given a reality check by Nicky Law’s team after an impressive start to the season, which included a 6-1 hammering of Leicester in their previous home fixture.

They were pegged back after Darren Bent gave the home side a 14th-minute lead when the young striker combined with another 18-year-old, Darren Ambrose.

Bent headed into Ambrose’s path on the right of the area and made his way to the back post to nod in a perfectly delivered cross from just two yards out.

But Bradford had already gone close to opening the scoring when an Andy Myers centre was brilliantly controlled on the chest by Michael Proctor only for the striker, on loan from Sunderland, to squeeze his volley over the bar.

And George Burley’s side were given further warning of their precarious lead when Danny Cadamarteri fired over from Thomas Gaardsoe’s miscued headed clearance.

However, the cash-strapped visitors, who will come out of administration later this week, did equalise in the 24th minute.

Hermann Hreidarsson shoved Ashley Ward to the floor and Paul Evans stepped up to curl a 25-yard free-kick over the defensive wall and inside Andy Marshall’s right hand post.

An immediate response was offered by Ambrose, who watched Aidan Davison palm away a 25-yarder.

Yet it was Bradford that looked the likelier to alter the scoreline for the remainder of the first half and it took a full-stretch save from Marshall to turn a Proctor shot around an upright, while Andy Gray dribbled his effort tantalisingly close to the target.

UEFA Cup challengers Ipswich began the second period positively and a flowing move involving Bent and Finidi George resulted in Jim Magilton slicing well wide.

Then, Marcus Stewart’s bravery in challenging for a loose ball with goalkeeper Davison almost led to the hosts going in front again.

Davison got to the ball first and flapped it to the right touchline, from where George returned it into the area and Bent’s goalbound header deflected over the top off Mark Bower.

Bradford keeper Davison produced two quality stops to keep his side level -first fisting out an Ambrose effort from a tight angle at his right-hand post, then repelling a Stewart drive on the run.

It was opposite number Marshall that made the most significant intervention, though, with 15 minutes left when Evans – a free transfer from Brentford this summer – pinged a shot from more than 40 yards that the Blues keeper touched onto the crossbar.

But the impressive Evans got involved again as Bradford bagged an 83rd-minute winner.

He took a quick free-kick and fed Proctor, who turned Gaardsoe and curled a shot around Marshall from 20 yards.

Despite a late flurry by the home side in which Stewart hit the bar with a header and former Ipswich man Gus Uhlenbeek blocked an Ambrose strike, Bradford held on.