City felled by bunch of five

The Bantams were second best throughout in their fifth straight defeat.

Goals from Steve Kabba, City old boy Dean Windass, Shaun Murphy, Michael Brown and Carl Asaba underlined the Blades' supremacy and City's cause wasn't helped when Gus Uhlenbeek was sent off against his former club.

England under-20 goalkeeper Boaz Myhill came straight in for Aidan Davison, who had conceded eight goals in two games.

With Robert Molenaar suspended, Gus Uhlenbeek was recalled after his one-match ban. At 32, he was by far the oldest player in a team whose average age only tipped 23.

Simon Francis, 17, made his home debut after playing so well at Nottingham Forest last week.

But all the focus was on a player on the other side as McCall returned for the first time since leaving City in the summer. McCall was not the only former Bantam on display as Dean Windass started his month's loan from Middlesbrough in a new-look strikeforce alongside £250,000 signing Steve Kabba.

Uhlenbeek was named captain against his old club - the fifth different player to skipper the side during this injury-ravaged campaign.

McCall got a massive ovation from all corners of the ground before he was quickly doing what he does best with a strong tackle on Andy Gray.

Uhlenbeek was involved at both ends. Having dragged a hopeful shot wide, he was back in his own back to snuff out the threat of highly-rated Michael Tonge and got fouled for his troubles.

In the best chance of the opening ten minutes, McCall found Kabba bursting into the penalty area. Holding off Francis, he forced a save from Myhill from a tight angle for a corner.

But the relief was only temporary as the visitors grabbed the lead in the 14th minute. Michael Brown's angled pass found Windass in room on the left and his low cross along the six-yard line gave KABBA a simple tap-in.

Windass did a little jig in front of his former fans on the Kop before being joined by Kabba, who was bizarrely playing his third game against City this season for his third club.

The goal knocked the stuffing out of the home supporters as City faced the demoralising prospect of a fifth straight defeat.

McCall, still after his first goal for the Blades, tried to drive forward but was stopped in his tracks for hand ball.

City were getting little joy out of the away defence, well governed by the imposing Page. Passes were going astray and when Andy Gray did find space to whip in a cross there was nobody anywhere near to challenge for it. Uhlenbeek powered forward but drifted a centre into the jeering away fans.

Michael Standing was trying to lift spirits and embarked on a promising run from the halfway line. But Shaun Murphy nicked the ball away before he could shape to have a crack.

Paul Evans, a Wales team-mate of Page in Azerbaijan in midweek, was dispossessed by Brown to spark another dangerous United attack. Bower came to City's rescue with a well-timed sliding challenge as Kabba looked to wriggle free in the penalty area.

Kabba was causing problems every time he got the ball and another forging run set up the second goal after 40 minutes.

Kabba was out-numbered three to one but still managed to make the yards before laying off a pass to WINDASS who nipped back inside Bower before drilling a low shot past Myhill at the near post.

"Are you Wednesday in disguise" was the taunt from the Bradford End and it was met with complete silence.

Hopes were raised as Jon Harley slid the ball out for a City corner. Kenny needed treatment but recovered to punch clear Singh's kick. Evans seemed to be limping as the ball was whisked up the other end.

The fans were growing restless and there were boos after a stray pass from Evans ran out of play behind Singh, his intended target.

Their disapproval continued as referee David Pugh whistled for the end of a one-sided first half.

Half-time: City 0, Sheff Utd 2

City made two changes for the second half. Off went Evans and Singh who were replaced by Wayne Jacobs, fit again after a virus, and Claus Jorgensen.

It was the Dane's first senior game for seven weeks since a knee operation and he only returned to the reserves on Monday at West Brom.

Francis showed determination to chase down a lost cause inside the Blades half which lifted the crowd. But there was still little to suggest that City could claw back the two-goal deficit.

Gray turned neatly inside the box after receiving a Jacobs throw-in with his back to goal. Page snaffled the ball off him for a corner which fell to Standing whose volley was blocked by the sliding Jagielka.

Uhlenbeek needlessly gave away a corner in the 54th minute from which Sheffield United nearly got a third. It was played short to McCall whose cross was headed goalwards by Page but Standing cleared it off the line.

Things went from bad to worse for City when they were reduced to ten men a minute later as Uhlenbeek was sent off for a foul on Tonge. The Dutchman went into the tackle from a fair distance and the referee decided to flash a straight red card.

It was the sixth sending off at the Bradford & Bingley Stadium this season. City looked in disarray and it was no surprise when Sheffield United went 3-0 up just before the hour. Tonge floated in a free-kick from the left wing and MURPHY rose unchallenged to glance a header past Myhill.

Sheffield United were attacking in waves and Brown refused to give up a ball that was rolling out for a goal-kick and turned it into a corner off Francis. It was depressing viewing again for the City faithful and the sight of Carl Asaba, the Blades' leading scorer, ready to come on promised worse to come.

Asaba appeared at the midway point of the half for Kabba, who had enjoyed a fine debut after his midweek move from Crystal Palace.

City also made their final change as Andy Myers appeared for his first action after a lengthy lay-off in place of Facey. Emanuel sent an effort flying over the bar from 20 yards but Kenny was still untroubled in the Sheffield United goal.

There was a slight disturbance among the United supporters and police and stewards were called in to restore order.

Still the misery went on and Sheffield United were awarded a penalty after 78 minutes for a foul on Tonge by Jorgensen and Bower.

BROWN sent Myhill the wrong way from the spot to put the visitors four ahead and spark an exodus of fed-up City fans.

Windass left the action to a hero's reception with ten minutes to go as Neil Warnock threw on Wayne Allison. Tonge also went off with John-Paul McGovern taking over.

City nearly pulled one back but Gray's shot was deflected up on to the bar by Kenny.

With three minutes left it was five. Myhill was caught in no man's land as he went up for a cross with Allison and ASABA tapped into the empty net.

McGovern was denied number six in added time by a good block from Myhill and Murphy headed over from a corner.