CITY 1 SUNDERLAND 2

DAVID Hopkin had bristled slightly at the pre-match suggestion that Sunderland’s visit to Valley Parade was a “free hit” for the Bantams.

In City’s current unhealthy league position, beating Wimbledon four days earlier carried more weight in the grand scheme of things.

But that didn’t mean Hopkin was treating anything from the weekend as an unexpected bonus.

“We don’t take any game as a freebie,” he told his questioner, fixing him with a steely gaze.

That was evident in the disappointment etched across Hopkin’s face when he met the press at the end of a pulsating – but ultimately fruitless – afternoon.

Professional pride over his patched-up side’s attempts to go toe-to-toe with the biggest name in the division – and an equal measure of frustration at seeing that effort come up empty-handed.

Resources remain strictly limited – and will be even more so thanks to Sean Scannell’s head loss in added time – but Hopkin seems to be squeezing every last drop out of them.

There was real commitment about City’s play; a drive and a purpose on the ball. What they might lack for quality, they fill up with good, honest toil.

It’s what Hopkin had promised on arrival as he picked through the train wreck of Bradford City 2018. But it is a long process.

The mentality is changing. Heads did not drop after Josh Maja’s opener, whatever the injustice felt over the part of the body he employed to divert a hopeful volley from Lee Cattermole past Richard O’Donnell in City’s goal.

Fitness has improved. Compare how strongly they are finishing games with the implosion at Blackpool when the petrol gauge hit empty.

Of course, the reality of a return to the bottom four should not be glossed over. But let’s not lose sight of the improvements under the Scot’s demanding regime.

It may seem an incredibly low bar after the play-off chases of recent years but Hopkin is not to blame for that. He is putting everything into restoring some kind of order to the previous chaos and the players – those fit enough to be on the pitch anyway – are clearly giving everything they’ve got.

Valley Parade was at its vibrant best in recognition of that commitment. The crackling atmosphere was a throwback to those ding-dong encounters with the likes of Bolton, Sheffield United and Millwall.

The roar that greeted Anthony O’Connor’s equaliser felt like a mighty release from the misery that has engulfed the club since the turn of the year. Typically, it proved to be short-lived.

But the Kop remained in good voice and humour. “You’re not singing anymore” being taunted towards the visiting fans quickly morphed into “we’re not singing anymore” as Sunderland restored their advantage within two minutes.

On and off the pitch, City looked to rise to the occasion. Sunderland’s boisterous following added to that – they have quickly grown accustomed to becoming everyone else’s cup final in League One.

It felt that for one afternoon, the plethora of problems were packed away for all to just enjoy football as it should be.

City could not afford to concede early as they had done against Barnsley and Charlton.

Jon McLaughlin, whose name was rightly cheered loudly by the home crowd, was forced into action by Scannell as the Bantams started on the front foot.

The league record against Sunderland has traditionally been wretched. No wins at Valley Parade since 1989 and just three goals in the previous 14 meetings.

Sunderland had also scored four each time in all but one of their last five visits.

So there were natural fears that City might cave once the Black Cats broke the deadlock on 20 minutes.

Aiden McGeady’s cross was cleared as far as Cattermole and Maja’s quick-thinking earned his ninth goal of the season by leaning into the shot to deflect it inside the near post.

O’Donnell led the protest for hand ball but it appeared to be more chest and shoulder from the teenage talent.

City, to their credit, did not yield as Jack Payne and George Miller both had chances.

And the reward for keeping going came seven minutes after the break. Kelvin Mellor’s long throw was helped on by a procession of heads for O’Connor, again deputising in midfield for the injured Jim O’Brien, to lash home.

Pandemonium ensued – for all of 130 seconds. Then City failed to clear and Jack Baldwin swept in Sunderland’s second.

But City were not done and scorned a glorious chance for a further equaliser.

Sunderland skipper Max Power was sent off for the second time in four games after lashing out at Ryan McGowan and up stepped Payne for the penalty.

But McLaughlin denied his old club that satisfaction and Payne dithered on the rebound, allowing Tom Flanagan enough time to dive in with a goal-saving lunge.

City went more direct against the 10 men but got nowhere with it. Hopkin threw on Kai Bruenker but the German continues to look out of his depth – underlining the lack of back-up that the head coach has to deal with.

Sunderland stood firm and were happy to mix it when required. The annoying but very effective Chris Maguire was the chief instigator as he maintained his October hoodoo on City.

This time last year he was in the Bury side that inflicted a first away defeat – 12 months before that his injury-time free-kick for Oxford ended City’s two-month unbeaten start.

“He enjoys being the subject of some niggly stuff” said his manager Jack Ross, although Sunderland’s official Twitter account took it a bit too far with a childish dig at “king” Maguire reigning over City sub Jordan Gibson.

It was a frantic but ineffective finish and Scannell’s frustration boiled over with a moment of rank stupidity when he fouled George Honeyman and then petulantly shoved him to the floor.

Hopkin initially accused the referee of playing to the Sunderland crowd and players with the red card. But it was a costly blunder from a key member of the team who must now sit out City’s next three games.

That’s the last thing Hopkin needs after a contest that should have offered plenty of encouragement even in defeat.

“I think you saw with the reaction of the Sunderland coaching staff and players, they knew they’d been in a game,” he said.

“The fans were magnificent and I think they can see the players are trying really hard to turn this round.

“Sunderland had one or two chances and they scored – that’s the difference when you’ve got Premier League and Championship players in your squad.”

CITY: O’Donnell 7, Mellor 7, McGowan 7, Knight-Percival 7, Wood 7, Scannell 5, O’Connor 8, O’Brien 7 (Gibson 83min), Payne 7, Miller 6 (Seedorf 87min), Ball 6 (Bruenker 76min). Subs (not used): Wright, Isherwood, Goldthorp, Sykes-Kenworthy.

SUNDERLAND: McLaughlin 7, Flanagan 6, Baldwin 7, Matthews 6, James 6, Maguire 8, Power 5, Cattermole 7, McGeady 7 (Honeyman 73min), Sinclair 6 (Ozturk 84min), Maja 7 (McGeouch 69min). Subs (not used): Robson, Mumba, Kimpioka, Ruiter.