Newcastle United 4, Bradford City 3: That's football logic for you. When one team that can't score at home meets another who hardly score anywhere, what's the result? A shedful of goals, obviously.

And that includes two for a centre-forward who has spent virtually three months scratching around to get off the mark.

Last night's ding-dong Worth-ington Cup tie was a personal triumph for Bradford City's Ashley Ward who emerged from Stan Collymore's shadow with a defiant double in the second half.

And even if the final result was a defeat, it was also further proof that the Bantams' legendary fighting spirit is still very much in working order. It just needs dusting off occasionally.

At 8.14pm, City might as well have stuck on lead boots and jumped from the nearby Tyne Bridge. Newcastle had just grabbed their third goal in seven minutes - helped by some calamitous defending - and humiliation was beckoning.

The travelling fans, desperately trying to make themselves heard in a 41,000-strong audience, were wondering whether that never-say-die commitment from the Leeds game three days earlier had been packed back in the case alongside the Sky TV cameras.

Aidan Davison, understudying the injured Matt Clarke, handed Newcastle their first when he spilled Daniel Cordone's shot into Alan Shearer's path.

Then the Argentine was left unmarked to tap in at the far post as Nolberto Solano found acres of space to cross devastatingly from the byline.

It got even worse when Solano again worked his way into no man's land to set up Shearer for a close-range free header.

City needed an immediate lift and got it from the unlikeliest of sources. Ian Nolan hadn't scored since December 21, 1996, but he got his shooting boots on after hustling Alan Shearer off the ball midway inside the home half.

As Newcastle's defence froze, Nolan romped through to drill a confident shot past Steve Harper.

Boss Chris Hutchings decided to shake things up at half-time by dumping ineffective strike duo Collymore and Benito Carbone. On came Ashley Ward and Dean Saunders with points to prove and a cup tie to resurrect.

Davison spared his own blushes with a splendid block from Kieron Dyer in the 56th minute before City pulled another back.

Lee Sharpe's free kick drew an unconvincing punch from Harper, the impressive Dan Petrescu floated the ball back in over the keeper and Ward applied the finishing touch.

Ward looked to be pulled down by Rob Lee when breaking clear, and Dean Windass drove a free-kick into the wall as City pushed for an equaliser.

It arrived in the 70th minute as Newcastle produced more slapstick defending. They failed to cut out a Jamie Lawrence cross and the ball bobbled about before Ward nodded into the net.

City's bench emptied in celebration. It proved short-lived.

Hutchings and Co had barely retaken their seats as Newcastle won a corner. City stood like statues as Solano swung the ball in and youngster Steve Caldwell, making his full debut, was unmarked to plant a sidefoot volley in the net from six yards.