City 1 Cambridge 0

CITY passed their Cambridge exam as they made it fourth time lucky against a League Two side this season to progress to the last 16 of the Checkatrade Trophy.

The Bantams had been knocked out of both the EFL Cup and the FA Cup by Accrington Stanley and also lost to Morecambe in their last group game of this much-maligned competition.

But they ended that sequence with a victory that netted them £20,000 and put them three games away from a trip to Wembley.

A goal after 63 minutes with a header from Nicky Law at the near post was the difference after Filipe Morais had fired in the most dangerous of crosses.

A small crowd of just 1,360 witnessed the contest. It was even smaller than the 1,444 figure that had turned up for their opening group game against Stoke, which had been the lowest attendance at Valley Parade since 1981.

City made seven changes from the team that lost at Swindon but had to make sure they did not fall foul of the controversial Checkatrade Trophy rules for fielding players, having already been handed a fine.

Five of the starting line-up were in the Bantams top 11 for the most starting appearances in league and cup competitions this season and therefore the criteria was fulfilled.

Cambridge had arrived in buoyant mood, aiming for their second League One scalp in four days after thrashing Coventry 4-0 in the second round of the FA Cup on Sunday.

But their team sheet suggested the competition was not top of their priority list as they left four-goal hero from that game, Luke Berry, on the bench along with main striker Uche Ikpeazu.

They were looking for their fourth consecutive win, having also won twice in the league to put them within touching distance of the League Two play-offs.

And having drawn Leeds United in the third round of the FA Cup, they were hoping to claim a West Yorkshire double.

It was a forgettable first half for the Bantams, who hardly threatened keeper Will Norris. Cambridge were the ones doing most of the pressing and gave Rouven Sattelmaier a much busier opening period.

Good play from City involving Law, Morais, Haris Vuckic and Mark Marshall earned them their first corner but it was a rare piece of fluency.

Instead it was the U's who were more threatening and Ben Williamson hit the side-netting when he should have found the target from just inside the box.

Centre half Leon Legge then saw his effort go just the wrong side of the post after a ball from James Dunne, before George Maris also went close.

Maris, who was a player brought in to the U's when City's head of recruitment Greg Abbott was working in the same role at United, was looking impressive.

He came the closest to opening the scoring with a cracking shot from distance which Sattelmaier had to dive full length to his left to save.

The biggest positive of the half was the introduction of Tony McMahon, who had not played a senior game since August after tearing his thigh against Coventry.

Boss Stuart McCall had said he would give the right back some game time and on 25 minutes McMahon swapped armbands with Stephen Darby, who was substituted in a pre-planned move.

City started the second half much better as Jordy Hiwula burst down the left and set up Vuckic, who shot just wide of the near post.

But Cambridge still threatened and Williamson again went close to putting the U's in front when he got behind the defence and forced a save from Sattelmaier from close range. The rebound fell to Davies, who shot wide in a near escape for the hosts.

Law's header midway through the half capped another good display from the midfielder.

He was involved again as he linked up with McMahon, who almost marked his comeback with a goal but his shot drifted just wide of the far post.

The Bantams were now looking the dominant side as Law linked up with Hiwula in a one-two and went down in the box but penalty appeals were waved away.

Marshall shot just wide but substitute Ikpeazu fired a late warning when he got the wrong side of a City defender and his effort was deflected just over the bar.

It was a near escape but the Bantams progressed into today's third-round draw.

City: Sattlemaier 7, Darby 6 (McMahon 25, 7), Kilgallon 6, McArdle 6, Clarke N 6, Morais 7, Law 8, Dieng 6 (Devine 45, 6), Marshall 7, Vuckic 6 (Cullen 58, 6), Hiwula 6.

Cambridge: Norris 6, Adams 6, Dunne 7, Legge 7, Mingoia 6 (Berry 57, 6), Williamson 7, Dunk 6, Long 6 (Davies 22, 6), Dallison 6, Maris 7 (Ikpeazu 57, 7), Clark 6.