Substitute Gareth Taylor grabbed both United goals to keep Nigel Spackman's
outfit on course for a play-off spot, but had referee Roger Furnandiz to thank.
Taylor who came on for the injured Dean Saunders, grabbed his first in bizarre
fashion in the 34th minute after the ball had cannoned off the referee's head.
The Welsh international seemed to have killed off United's Yorkshire rivals
with a 79th-minute strike before Bradford substitute Robert Steiner struck with
five minutes to go to set up an action-packed finish.
United carved out the early openings and should have scored when Ian Rush,
making his home debut, and Graham Stuart combined to set up midfielder Bobby
Ford who charged into the box only to slice the ball high and wide.
Nigel Pepper found a gap in the United rearguard in the 16th minute but
miscued with only Alan Kelly to beat.
Rush squandered a half chance as Vas Borbokis pumped over a teasing cross from
the right. The 36-year-old striker jumped unmarked but could get no power in his
header and Walsh collected easily.
Taylor, who replaced Saunders in the 16th minute after the former Forest man
limped off with a pulled muscle, battled to win the ball before picking out
Borbokis who twisted past his marker only to balloon the ball over the top.
Wayne Quinn almost found a way through on the half hour with a curling centre
palmed away by Gary Walsh, Borbokis pounced and tried to chip into an empty goal
but the ball dropped the wrong side of the bar as Walsh scrambled back.
United swept ahead when defender Chris Short set off on a run through the
middle. He was stopped by defender Eddie Youds, but cracked the ball downfield
only to see it crash off the referee's head.
The ball looped 25 yards the other way into the path of Taylor who chested it
before slotting a low shot beyond Walsh's reach.
Youds had a close-range header stopped by Kelly who then foiled ex-United
defender Chris Wilder as Bradford battled back.
Steiner should have levelled matters in the 63rd minute when he latched onto a
Quinn mistake but scooped the ball over the top from 12 yards.
Taylor's second came in the 79th minute courtesy of the unselfish Rush. Stuart
was foiled at the far post, the ball rolled to the ex-Liverpool hitman who
instead of shooting picked out Taylor who finished with a crisp low shot.
Bradford suffered a further blow when Jamie Lawrence was stretchered off after
appearing to fall awkwardly. But they pulled a goal back five minutes from time,
Robbie Blake finding space on the right to pick out Steiner who side- footed
past Kelly.
United clung on in the dying minutes as Kelly kept out Steiner and then
produced a magnificent one-handed stop to foil Pepper.
Teams
Sheff Utd (1) 2 Bradford (0) 1
Sheff Utd: Kelly, Short, Quinn, Borbokis (O'Connor 89), Derry,
Holdsworth, Saunders (Taylor 16), Marker, Rush, Ford, Stuart.
Subs Not Used: Tracey.
Goals: Taylor 34, 79.
Bradford: Walsh, Wilder, Jacobs, Ramage, Youds, Melville,
Lawrence (O'Brien 81), Pepper, Edinho (Steiner 57), Blake,
Beagrie.
Subs Not Used: Murray.
Booked: Melville, Pepper.
Goals: Steiner 85.
Att: 17,848
Ref: R D Furnandiz (Doncaster).
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