Eight goals, four penalties - three scored, one missed. Five bookings, one
sending-off and a stunning Dean Windass hat-trick.
But once the frenzy of today's extraordinary relegation battle between
Bradford and Derby at Valley Parade has died down, the bare statistics are
likely to tell a different story.
That Bradford simply were not good enough to extend their Premiership
adventure beyond one season.
Today's 4-4 draw with Derby, one of the most remarkable matches of this and
any other Premiership season, broke a six-game losing sequence for the Bantams -
but it left them five points off safety with four games to play.
If only Dean Saunders had made the most of his golden opportunity against his
old club with the last kick of the match, when he found himself clean through
but shot straight at keeper Mart Poom, Bradford would now be looking at a
brighter scenario.
Paul Jewell's men gave their all, clawing back from the hammer blow of
conceding a goal to Rory Delap after just 21 seconds and a second to Branko
Strupar six minutes later to actually lead before the half hour.
It was 4-3 to Bradford at half-time and Delap had departed for the pushing
offence which allowed Peter Beagrie to put the home side ahead from the penalty
spot.
But still they could not hold on to the lead they so desperately needed, Craig
Burley hitting the only goal after the interval with his second penalty of the
match and then, with 10 minutes to go, failing with a chance to win it for Derby
and complete his spot-kick hat-trick.
Jim Smith's Rams will be happier with their point which takes them six points
clear of Sheffield Wednesday. Jewell will be tearing his hair out that once
again his side failed to heed his warning in the match programme, that they must
cut out their careless early mistakes which have cost them so dear this season.
Only minutes gone, Bradford 0 Derby 2. Malcolm Christie's cross across goal
was gleefully swept home by Delap who could not miss, and Strupar's rocketing
free-kick from outside the box appeared to put Bradford down and out.
Somehow, though, their beleaguered players summoned up a remarkable recovery.
Dean Windass chested down and lashed home a left-foot shot after 10 minutes.
Eight minutes later he equalised with a similar effort from 25 yards.
When Delap was dismissed for shirt-pulling in the penalty box on 26 minutes
and Beagrie slotted home the penalty, Bradford, unbelievably, were ahead.
And still the action continued unabated. Scarcely had the home fans regained
their seats than Burley was equalising with a penalty at the other end.
On the stroke of half-time, another cracking effort from Windass completed his
hat-trick and put the Bantams firmly in command.
Burley's equaliser after the break did not bring the curtain down on the
drama. When Darryl Powell was fouled 10 minutes from the end and referee Alan
Wilkie pointed to the spot for the fourth time, the Scottish international had
his chance to win it.
This time, though, his effort was spectacularly saved by Matt Clarke in the
Bradford goal.
Bradford, more desperate for the points, pressed. Windass and Beagrie had
golden opportunities. Derby brought on Giorgi Kinkladze for Strupar and banked
on the counter-attack.
With City's notoriously shaky defence positively quaking, they should have
taken advantage. Christie took the ball round Clarke, but his shot was cleared
off the line by David Wetherall.
Seth Johnson weaved through the home defence, but tapped his shot inches wide
of Clarke's left-hand upright.
Bradford substitute Isaiah Rankin fired over in injury time, then Saunders
missed a chance he will have nightmares about. It was magic stuff. Magic stuff
which has probably sealed Derby County's Premiership existence for another
season.
Bradford's reward for these 90 minutes of pulsating drama will likely be a lot
more harsh.
Teams
Bradford: Clarke, McCall, Wetherall, Westwood (Saunders 71),
Blake, Beagrie, O'Brien, Windass, Halle, Dreyer,Jacobs (Rankin 77).
Subs Not Used: Todd, Sharpe, Davison.
Booked: Westwood, Halle, Windass, Dreyer.
Goals: Windass 11, 18, Beagrie 27 pen, Windass 44.
Derby: Poom, Carbonari, Powell, Dorigo, Johnson, Delap,
Christie, Laursen, Elliott, Burley, Strupar (Kinkladze 65).
Subs Not Used: Oakes, Schnoor, Jackson, Riggott.
Sent Off: Delap (26).
Booked: Johnson, Christie, Carbonari.
Goals: Delap 1, Strupar 6, Burley 36 pen, 52 pen.Att: 18,276
Ref: A Wilkie (Chester le Street).
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