15.02.2015 17:44 h

Stead on mark as Bradford repeat Cup heroics

Chelsea's FA Cup conquerors Bradford City pulled off another giant-killing feat on Sunday with a memorable 2-0 victory over Premier League Sunderland in the fifth round at Valley Parade.

The lowest-ranked club left in the competition reached the last eight courtesy of an early own goal by visiting captain John O'Shea and a second-half effort from former Sunderland striker Jon Stead.

Bradford won the FA Cup for the first and only time in 1911, when they became the first team to win the current model of the FA Cup trophy, which had been manufactured in the city earlier that year.

Over a century later, the third-tier side stunned their Premier League visitors with a third-minute goal that energised the crowd and set the tone for a pulsating cup tie that harked back to the halcyon days of the competition.

Filipe Morais sent over a right-wing free-kick that found its way to Clarke, whose left-foot drive flew past stationary goalkeeper Vito Mannone after taking a sizeable deflection off O'Shea.

It was a goal that unsettled the visitors, who were made uncomfortable not only by a rutted and muddy pitch, but also by the physicality and determination of their League One opponents.

When Rory McArdle made a strong challenge on Danny Graham after seven minutes, the pair needed treatment for head wounds, but only after visiting manager Gus Poyet and his bench had been separated from their Bradford counterparts as they protested against McArdle's roughness.

Sunderland's mood was not helped soon after when McArdle made a desperate tackle on Steven Fletcher on the six-yard line that left the visitors appealing in vain for a penalty.

Eventually, however, Sunderland got to grips with the conditions and the opposition, and played their part in a game full of action and chances.

Stead's header across the area was almost turned in by Morais as Bradford pressed, while James Hanson's skilful run ended in a shot that was well parried by Mannone.

At the other end, Ben Williams saved at close range from Adam Johnson and the first half concluded with a swerving Patrick van Aanholt shot that the Bradford goalkeeper managed to block.

Sunderland's improvement continued in the second half with one-time England international Johnson lobbing narrowly over the bar, but that miss would prove pivotal as Bradford claimed their second goal moments later.

Johnson was again involved, rashly attempting to clear from the right-back position with a misjudged attempt that flew directly to Hanson, whose header enabled Stead to dispatch a shot that squirmed beneath Mannone.

Knott and Stead both threatened Mannone's goal again during the closing stages as Bradford made a mockery of the 37 league places that separate the two clubs.