Cardiff 0-2 Bradford

New Cardiff signing Alan Lee had a frustrating day in front of goal

Bradford rocked big-spending Cardiff with a surprise win at Ninian Park thanks to two spectacular long-range goals from Andy Gray and Lewis Emmanuel.

The Bluebirds splashed out £1.2million to bring striker Alan Lee to Ninian Park from Rotherham during the week.

But, despite Lee being a constant threat, it was Gray - a free signing from Nottingham Forest last summer - and young substitute Emmanuel who stole the show for Bradford.

Gray started things for the visitors, thumping home a left-foot volley past Neil Alexander from 25 yards out to give Bradford the lead in the sixth minute.

Then, after some intense home pressure, Emmanuel - on as a second-half substitute - unleashed an unstoppable shot of his own from the edge of the box to earn the Bantams the points.

The visitors had to withstand long spells of pressure from the home side throughout, but Bradford keeper Mark Paston was in fine form.

Rob Earnshaw and new strike partner Lee went close on several occasions, while City winger John Robinson thumped a shot against the bar.

After Scottish international Gray gave Bradford the lead, Lee should have opened his Cardiff account when he powered onto a Graham Kavanagh free-kick, but his header down bounced wide of the goal.

Bluebirds sign Langley

Then Cardiff upped the tempo as Robinson fired wide, Earnshaw ballooned the ball over Paston's bar, and the Bradford keeper then pushed Tony Vidmar's effort away after he stole in the at the back post.

Cardiff continued to ask questions of the Bradford defence in the second half but it was the visitors who struck again in the 53rd minute.

Emmanuel, on as a substitute for winger Ben Muirhead, found himself in space on the edge of the Cardiff box before letting fly with a rocket of a left-foot shot that nestled into the top corner of the net.

Bluebirds boss Lennie Lawrence immediately threw on another new signing, Richard Langley, to try and salvage something from the game.

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The former Queen's Park Rangers midfielder flashed a brace of shots wide, while Lee headed wide and Earnshaw had an effort hacked off the line by Wayne Jacobs as Cardiff battled away in vain.

One piece of good news for Cardiff on Saturday was being drawn at home against West Ham in the second round of the Carling Cup.

It will be an exciting match against their Division One rivals, newly relegated from the Premiership, with the tie to be played on the week commencing 22 September.

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Cardiff: Alexander, Weston, Vidmar, Gabbidon, Barker, Boland, Kavanagh, Robinson, Whalley, Earnshaw, Lee. Subs: Langley, Campbell, Bonner, Collins, Margetson.

Bradford: Paston, Edds, Heckingbottom, Jacobs, Wetherall, Evans, Francis, Muirhead, Gray, Windass, Branch. Subs: Combe, Wolleaston, Standing, Emanuel, Kearney.

Referee: Lee Cable (Lancashire).