Town boss Joe Royle said he could see no reason for Bradford's anger at his side's second goal just before half-time. The visitors felt that defender Mark Bower had been fouled by Darren Bent prior to the striker playing the ball in for Ian Westlake to score.

Royle said: "I have seen the video twice and couldn't see any contact at all. What would have been a big plus for Bradford turned out to be a big negative in those minutes before the interval.

"Bearing in mind the reaction to our home defeat against Wigan last week I thought this was a good performance. We could have had more than three goals."

The Town boss was particularly impressed with his front two: "They did well together, and by the end the Bradford back four were fed up of chasing them."

Kuqi missed a gilt-edged chance to score his second late on but Royle says he is happy with the Finn's goal tally: "He slipped but at least he kept going. You can't argue with the goals he has scored since he has been here. His work rate is terrific."

Regarding the visitors, Royle feels a team with their players should be higher in the table: "They'll have to get going soon. Looking at their players they are better than their current form but they were not so good today.

"We played well but, of course, we are a decent side. We're back in fourth place and so far as promotion is concerned there is life in us yet."

Bradford manager Bryan Robson stayed away from the post-match press conference but veteran midfielder Dean Windass was adamant that Bower had been fouled: "I was 60 yards away and saw Mark pushed in the back, but the referee thought he had slipped.

"These things go against you when you are bottom of the league. I don't really blame the referee because it was probably the linesman's fault.

"Our lads got frustrated because it almost certainly killed the game off for us. We could have come in at 1-1 and had a right go at them in the second half."

"The referee had no option but to book us. The gaffer told us to calm down in the second half because he did not want anyone sent off.”

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