Bradford deny Derby

Ward celebrates his fourth goal of the season

Bradford 2-0 Derby

Bradford City staved off almost inevitable relegation for another week, with perhaps their best performance of the season.

City are virtually doomed to First Division football next season - but against Derby Jim Jefferies' men proved yet again that they will not go quietly

Ashley Ward's first half strike and Eoin Jess's late deflection ensured City victory but Derby were not helped by the second half dismissal of Seth Johnson.

The loss leaves Derby with work still to do if they are to stay in the Premiership - they now lie joint fourth to bottom with Middlesbrough.

But despite perhaps their best perrormance of the season against Derby Bradford's fate still lies with the team's above them, .

Early chance

Despite having the best early chance of the match and putting on a late surge Derby never looked like winning after, especially not after losing Johnson.

Deon Burton could easily have given the visitors the lead inside the first minute after collecting a long kick out from goalkeeper Mart Poom, but the striker's shot flew narrowly over the bar.

Robbie Blake then had the chance to put the Rams ahead but his shot went straight at Poom.

A double save from Poom soon after denied City the lead again.

The Estonian international keeper first punched clear a curling Benito Carbone free-kick from the edge of the area. The rebound fell straight to Andy Myers, but Poom plucked his header out of the air.

Johnson saw red

But the spirits lifted two minutes later with Ward's breakthrough goal. A through ball from skipper Stuart McCall found Jess, who turned in a cross to the near post for Ward to put away for his fourth goal of the season.

A superb period of football from Bradford ensued and they should have had a penalty in the 25th minute, when Gunnar Halle's shot appeared to hit the arm of Chris Rigott, but referee Neale Barry ignored the home side's appeals.

Johnson sees red

Derby had the final chance of the half as Lee Morris turned in a low ball through the area for Seth Johnson, but his 15-yard shot just went wide.

After their poor first half effort , Derby at least attempted to step up a gear at the start of the second and came close to the equaliser 12 minutes in.

A McCall foul on Giorgi Kinkladze five yards outside the area led to Horacio Carbonari cracking in a thunderous free-kick which Walsh spilled. Rory Delap followed in and flicked the ball goalwards, but Walsh just managed to get a touch, deflecting the shot wide.

But the spark was soon extinguished as Johnson was sent from the pitch just 13 minutes into the half, after a shocking challenge on McCall.

Derby, tried to peg back the goal but Walsh denied them time and again and when Jess's effort came from a corner with two minutes remaining, the battle ended.

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Bradford: Walsh, Myers, Molenaar, Jacobs, Halle, McCall, Whalley, Ward, Blake, Carbone, Jess. Subs: Davison, Nolan, Lawrence, Grant, McKinlay.

Derby: Poom, Carbonari, Riggott, Delap, Boertien, Kinkladze, Eranio, Johnson, Murray, Burton, Morris. Subs: Christie, Gudjonsson, Mawene, Bragstad, Grant.

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe).