Can Bradford Continue Run At Home To Sunderland?

League One play-off contenders Bradford City will hope to continue their dream FA Cup run this afternoon (14:30) as Phil Parkinson`s men take on Sunderland of the Premier League. The Black Cats are currently 15th in the top tier of English football and only two points from the dreaded drop zone. Parkinson`s side are ninth in their league, two points off the play-offs with two games in hand over Oldham who occupy the final play-off position.

This 38 place chasm between the two teams means that it is Sunderland who are the favourites to progress, despite being away from home. They can be supported at 5/4 with a number of bookmakers. The Valley Parade outfit, contrarily, are 13/5 to get the win with boylesports and william hill. A draw, something that would force a replay at the Stadium Of Light, can be picked up at 12/5 with many betting establishments. Bradford have been in the FA Cup hat since round one whilst their opponents for this afternoon received a bye into the third stage thanks to their Premier League status.

Back in November, Bradford avoided an upset by coming from behind to defeat Conference side and fellow Yorkshire rivals Halifax 2-1. Lois Maynard grabbed the opener for The Shay outfit with the game just three minutes young before Jon Stead equalised in the second 45. Filipe Morais` strike saw the Bantams squeeze in front, and they would see out the remaining 40 minutes to secure victory.

Stead and Morais were also on the scoresheet as their club recorded an emphatic win 4-1 over their second successive Conference side, Dartford. Billy Clarke provided the opener at Valley Parade before Stead hit the second goal of the first half just past the half an hour mark. Morais opened the second half scoring before Mark Yeates added their fourth. The Darts managed a consolation goal through Lee noble.

They would need a replay to see off Championship strugglers Millwall following their third round draw with the side away from home. A brace from Billy Knott and an own goal from Lions` defender Sid Nelson set the Yorkshire club up for a home replay, which they won 4-0. Both Knott and Stead added their third goals of the competition with James Hanson breaking the deadlock and Andy Halliday adding to the tally.

Four goals were also hit against Premier League leaders Chelsea on the road in the fourth round. Gary Cahill and Ramires would put the Blues in front before Stead hit back four minutes before the half time whistle. Morais levelled up 15 minutes from time before Halliday and Yeates sealed the 4-2 victory and the dramatic upset.

Parkinson`s high scorers are 25/1 to continue in this vein and bag over 3.5 goals at home to Sunderland this afternoon. The team`s top FA Cup scorers, Stead, Knott and Morais are 10/3 (ladbrokes), 11/2 (Coral) and 6/1 (betfair, Betvictor, ladbrokes) respectively to continue their run of FA Cup form at any time.

The Black Cats, however, are 11/4 with Skybet to win to nil following the two clean sheets they have kept in their last three FA Cup games.

Gus Poyet`s Tyneside club earned themselves a 1-0 victory over Championship side Leeds thanks to Patrick van Aanholt before playing out a goalless draw at home to their second successive second tier side in Fulham.

Sunderland`s replay on the road saw them progress, a 3-1 win being racked up. They had to come from behind with Hugo Rodallega opening the scoring for the Whites but second half goals from Richard Alvarez, Jordi Gomez and an own-goal from Marcos Bettinelli saw the Mackems avoid an upset.

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15/02/2015     © Frixo 2026