Bradford City moved to within three points of a First Division play-off place after beating Port Vale 2-1 at Valley Parade on a night when manager Paul Jewell praised goalscoring heroes Andy Melville and Nigel Pepper for their bravery.

Securing a top six place is a tall order for City, especially as they have played more games than the five teams immediately above them, but the chance is still alive.

Only three points separate sixth placed Stockport - one of three teams on 51 points - and 11th placed City on 48, but Stockport and West Brom have played one game less, Ipswich two games and Wolves and Birmingham three games fewer.

City, who have 11 matches left, now facing testing away games at two of the sides immediately above them, Sheffield United and West Brom on the next two Saturdays.

They had to come from behind to beat relegation threatened Vale and Jewell was the first to admit his side were not at their best. But, after seeing City unlucky to go home pointless from recent away trips to Middlesbrough and Wolves he was happy to see his side take three points from a far from convincing display.

He said: "It wasn't a great performance, not as good as Middlesbrough or Wolves, but we got three points from Port Vale and nothing out of those two games."

Jewell had spoken before the match of the need for players to go in where it hurts to score goals and Melville and Pepper duly obliged.

He said: "Andy Meville got a bang on the head when he scored our equaliser, but the headache will be worth it. Nigel Pepper wants to score goals and he showed how it is done when he went to meet a great ball from Robbie Blake."

City will field a largely youthful team when the reserves meet Shrewsbury at Valley Parade tonight.

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