JOHN O’SHEA’S EARLY own goal and Jon Stead’s second-half effort saw Bradford City claim another Premier League scalp as they defeated Sunderland 2-0 to continue their remarkable FA Cup adventure.
League One Bradford had provided one of the greatest shocks in the competition’s illustrious history in the previous round when they came from two down to defeat Premier League leaders Chelsea 4-2 at Stamford Bridge.
Sunday’s fifth-round encounter at Valley Parade lacked the thrilling drama of that match, but it was still another memorable victory for a side who have become accustomed to ousting top-flight opposition in the cup competitions.
It also provided a headache for British TV executives, who had controversially opted not to show the match live – despite Bradford’s heroics in round four.
O’Shea put through his own net in the third minute when he unwittingly diverted Billy Clarke’s shot past Vito Mannone, before former Sunderland man Stead capitalised on a poor clearance from Adam Johnson to fire low under the body of the visiting goalkeeper shortly after the hour mark.
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Sunderland, without the rested Jermain Defoe, struggled to create clear goalscoring opportunities on a difficult playing surface, and Bradford were able to comfortably see out the victory and book their spot in the last eight of the FA Cup for the first time since 1976.
Bradford have never lost at home in a cup competition under manager Phil Parkinson, and that sequence was extended to 12 matches as they toppled a Premier League side for the second time in just over three weeks.
