Sky viewers were treated to a thoroughly entertaining game at Portman Road this afternoon. Two stunning Martijn Reuser strikes put Town ahead after Benito Carbone had put Bradford in the lead with an equally superb strike in the first half. Mark Burchill scored Town's third, although Hermann Hreidarsson might have a claim on it too.
The Blues lined up without Mark Venus and Jamie Clapham as Hermann Hreidarsson returned on the left of defence and Martijn Reuser came in at left midfield.
Town began in the ascendent, but didn't really get into their stride. Despite this a number of chances were created with Titus Bramble heading wide and Martijn Reuser bringing an excellent save from Gary Walsh when latching on to a cross from the right.
Town had a shout for a penalty when a ball was played over the top in front of Burchill. The Scot looked to have got the better of the defender and it appeared that a hand touched the ball to halt him in his tracks, referee Andy D'Urso saw nothing and play moved to the other end where Bradford were given a freekick from which they scored.
With Town's wall not lookng exactly inpenetrable the ball was laid off to Carbone who hammered a shot past Richard Wright from fully thirty yards. How many times can you remember Wright being beaten from as far out as that? It was though a fantastic strike and Bradford's first shot on goal. As the ball hit the net the Town fans, in the midst of a long singing session, went strangely silent. However, this didn't last long.
Town were the dominant side but the breaks weren't happening and the passing wasn't always up to the usual standard. Reuser was giving the Bradford defence trouble down the left while Scowcroft and Burchill were a bit of a handful up front. However, the half-time whistle blew without Town dragging themselves back on terms.
At half-time Town removed Jim Magilton and brought on Alun Armstrong. James Scowcroft went to the right of midfield as George Burley looked to push forward more.
And it wasn't long before the Blues were back on terms. In the 59th minute Bradford defender Andy O'Brien was caught in possession halfway inside his own half on the Bradford right flank. Martijn Reuser dispossessed him and ran towards the penalty area with O'Brien in his wake. The Dutchman cut inside the defender and sent a powerful curling shot into Gary Walsh's net. It was a fantastic strike at a time when it was important for Town to get back on terms.
There was only likely to be one winner at this stage, although Town had a major scare when Jermanine Wright was caught in possession just inside the Bradford half. The Bantams broke quickley and a ball was played across the Town box where Benito Carbone sent it high over the bar when it looked easier to score. It was a very big let-off for the Blues.
Town continued pushing forward with Titus Bramble and Hermann Hreidarsson both making their trademark runs forward. It was from one of the Icelander's runs goalwards which saw Town go ahead. Hreidarsson had taken the ball from well inside the Town half and was about to enter the Bradford area when Ashley Ward chopped him down. This was one of a number of challenges of this type which saw Andy D'Urso book four Bradford players.
With one goal under his belt there was only one man who was going to take the freekick: Martijn Reuser. The Dutchman ran up and curled the ball perfectly into Gary Walsh's top right-hand corner. The ex-Ajax man dropped to his knees and was swamped by team-mates as they all piled on top. A fabulous strike only eclipsed by Reuser's first which really was something special.
A third was not long in coming, on 75, just three minutes later. A Reuser corner was headed powerfully goalwards by Hermann Hreidarsson and was nicked on by Burchill and past Walsh. The Icelander was oblivious to the Celtic-man's touch and went to celebrate with the North Stand Richard Naylor style. Hreidarsson stagedived beyond the fence in front of row A of the North Stand and further into the depths of the stand. Replays showed a definite touch by Burchill and like a true striker he has claimed the goal.
After this it should have been a breeze. Reuser hit another powerful shot, but this time Gary Walsh was equal to it. Reuser also looped another cross towards the box, but the ball was cleared.
At the other end the Town defence lost their concentration a bit and Robbie Blake had the ball cleared off the line. Richard Wright had gone up for a ball with Ashley Ward and the ball broke loose. There were appeals for handball by the Bradford striker, but Andy D'Urso saw nothing. Blake found himself with the goal at his mercy and Wright out of position. Fortunately for Town both Titus Bramble and John McGreal had placed themselves on the line and McGreal cleared the ball.
And that was largely that. The last ten minutes was all shouts for Burley to give us a wave, songs about Mogga and farewells to our Bradford comrades. It was much like the atmosphere in many late season games back in the First Division. Nabil Abidallah was given his second first team run-out replacing Jermanie Wright and Jamie Clapham came on for Hermann Hreidarsson.
The final whistle went with Portman Road once more jubilant and Town back to third. The Sky cameras followed Martijn Reuser off the field and John McGreal even shook hands with Andy D'Urso.
An excellent second half performance from Town and especially Reuser who cannot surely be left out after a performance like that and goals like those.
Three away games on the trot next which will be central to whether Town make Europe or not. Next stop Aston Villa.
Town are linked in some papers today with a £250,000 bid for Northampton's Jamie Forrester. Forrester bagan his career at Leeds and has also played for Scunthorpe.
It seems very unlikely that Town would bid for a plyer like him, although he has scored consistently at lower levels. We'd say we're not entirely convinced this is true.