Manchester City's First Division future looked bleaker than ever tonight after a makeshift Bradford side came from behind to deny them three crucial points.

Joe Royle's men paid a high price for squandering a series of clear-cut chances with new £400,000 striker Shaun Goater proving a real villain on his debut.

In a frantic first half, the Bermudan international, who joined the Maine Road club from Bristol City before Thursday's transfer deadline, failed to hit the target twice with only keeper Gary Walsh to beat but his worst miss came 13 minutes from time when his side were already 2-1 down.

Another of Royle's recent recruits Jamie Pollock set up the chance with a surging run but when he squared the ball to Goater, he again dragged his shot well wide.

Bradford keeper Walsh also had to make two late saves to deny Jim Whitley and substitute Lee Bradbury to secure the Bantams' first win over the visitors at Valley Parade for 70 years.

The Blues' misery was completed when their goalscorer Jeff Whitley was given his marching orders three minutes into injury-time for a second bookable offence.

It had all started brightly for City against a Bradford side which had to be shuffled following the transfer deadline departures of Eddie Youds, Chris Wilder and Peter Beagrie.

Royle's men bossed the first half and despite Goater's early misses they deservedly took the lead after 24 minutes.

A deep cross from Pollock caught Bradford's defence napping and 19-year-old Whitley rose at the far post to send a looping header beyond the stranded Walsh.

Although they survived a penalty appeal when Bradford's Swedish striker Robert Steiner went sprawling in the box, the visitors looked to be well on top and it was a real body blow when midfielder Nigel Pepper levelled the scores after 48 minutes.

The goal was brilliantly set up by Robbie Blake's chipped pass and Pepper superbly brought down the ball in the box before lobbing it into the net from 10 yards out.

Ten minutes later Blake was denied a goal of his own when he amazingly hit the same post twice, but the Bantams were soon ahead thanks to some terrible defending.

Pepper was allowed too much time to pick out unmarked substitute Edhino and the Brazilian striker beat a woeful offside trap before slotting home the winner.

City battled desperately to snatch a late equaliser but Goater's miss summed up a miserable day and they now have just a handful of games left to avoid the drop to the Second Division.

Teams

Bradford: Walsh, McAnespie, Jacobs, Ramage, Sinnott, O'Brien, Lawrence, Pepper, Steiner (Davies 59), McGinlay (Edinho 45), Blake.

Subs Not Used: Bolland.

Booked: McGinlay.

Goals: Pepper 49, Edinho 66.

Man City: Margetson, Jeff Whitley, Edghill, Jobson, Symons, Tskhadadze (Russell 70), Jim Whitley, Pollock, Goater, Bishop (Wiekens 52), Rosler (Bradbury 80).

Sent Off: Jeff Whitley (90).

Booked: Jeff Whitley, Pollock.

Goals: Jeff Whitley 24.

Att: 17,099

Ref: E K Wolstenholme (Blackburn).