Bradford City Res 1, Liverpool Res 3: The Bantams cavalry is mustering and not a moment too soon.

The day after the dreadful night before, City received the timeliest of boosts - from Odsal of all places.

Bradford Bulls' spiritual home provided the stage for the much-rearranged reserve game with Liverpool yesterday. And the 100 or so fans in the cavernous surroundings saw the welcome sight of two key defenders back in action.

Gunnar Halle did enough in 50 minutes to show he is fit and raring for first-team action against Manchester City tomorrow.

Not bad for a player who just over a fortnight ago was being written off for the rest of the season after breaking a rib.

Halle had sat on the bench at Stockport and must surely come into contention when City try to keep a lid on Kevin Keegan's free-scoring mob.

David Wetherall is obviously nowhere near ready to face the club he would have joined in November but for a failed medical. But just the reappearance of the City centre-half cheered up the wind-swept afternoon gathering.

Wetherall has been plagued by groin injuries for the last 15 months with one setback after another.

And he must have felt a sense of Groundhog Day yesterday - Liverpool reserves were also the opponents when he began his comeback last season.

Wetherall came off just before half-time, slightly earlier than schedule in his first game since October 27. But don't panic, any problem was in the head not the groin.

"David came off as a slight precaution because he's had a bit of a virus," said reserve coach Mark Prudhoe. "He was feeling a few after-effects from the bug but apart from that he looked fine."

Wetherall, who only joined in proper training on Monday, showed glimpses of his old calm self in testing conditions where the powerful gusts occasionally lifted the ball behind players when they tried to boot it upfield.

He got caught in possession once by Milan Baros but recovered his poise straight away to win back possession before the Czech Republic striker could shoot.

Liverpool opened with a barrage of six corners but the Bantams struck first after 17 minutes as Halle's long throw fell to Tom Kierney, one of five trialists, on the edge of the penalty area. The midfielder from Everton connected well and Jorgen Nielsen could only push it into the bottom corner.

It was a quality finish and prompted one wag to bellow: "Hope you lot aren't doing anything on Friday."

But Liverpool were level just after the half-hour with a fierce cross-shot from Frenchman Bernard Diomede which flew past Jon Worsnop from 12 yards.

Jamie Redknapp, making his comeback game after four months out with knee trouble, survived 70 minutes but his departure soon heralded a second Liverpool goal as Baros finished clinically from close range. And they wrapped up victory ten minutes from time when Daniel Sjolund headed home powerfully from John Welsh's cross.

Before kick-off, Premier Reserve League officials examined the facilities and City are confident of getting the green light to use Odsal for four remaining reserve games this season.

Managing director Shaun Harvey said: "There are one or two little things to sort out but we can't see there being a problem.

"It will ease the workload on the Valley Parade pitch."

CITY RES: Worsnop, Halle, Bower, McKeown, Wetherall, Dillon, Juanjo, Evers, Sanasy, Cunnington, Kierney. Subs: Bentham, Brodie, Swift, Penfold, Prudhoe.

LIVERPOOL RES: Nielsen, Heggem, Warnock, McNulty, Whitbread, Foley, Partridge, Redknapp, Baros, Sjolund, Diomede. Subs: Mellor, Parry, Culshaw, Welsh, Prince.