City 1, Crawley 2

A dark day for Bradford sport was topped off by incredible post-match scenes which later saw FIVE players sent off as City lost at home for the first time since mid-November.

After the bombshell news about the precarious plight of the Bulls, the local sports scene could have done with an immediate pick-me-up from the football club.

Instead a fourth defeat in five games leaves the Bantams still far too close to the drop zone for comfort – but the result was completely overshadowed by the shocking events that unfolded after the final whistle.

Both sides went at it in a full-scale brawl and the result was red cards for three City players – Andrew Davies, Luke Oliver and Jon McLaughlin – as well as Crawley pair Claude Davis and Pablo Mills.

It had started with a skirmish between Davies and Davis and quickly got out of hand. Football Association repercussions are likely to follow – and Davies has now been sent off three times. It was an unsatisfactory finish to a night of frustration for the home side.

There was nothing in it against the biggest spenders of the division in a scrappy contest. But with Saturday’s huge trip – both in terms of significance and distance – to Plymouth looming, an opportunity was missed to create some much-needed breathing space on the teams around them.

Crawley’s robust style of play does not win many admirers. They had five men booked and frustrated the crowd with their time-wasting.

And boss Steve Evans will never win a popularity contest. But his side’s in-yer-face approach is proving horribly effective as they close in on a second straight promotion.

Crawley edged a game of headers as Gary Alexander clinched their fourth straight win five minutes after Chris Dagnall had broken his City scoring duck.

With no baby news to report as yet, Kyel Reid made another pre-match motorway trip from London to play. Given the amount the team had travelled over the past month, he was certainly clocking up the miles.

But it was a major boost for Phil Parkinson to have Reid available again after his sizzling form against Gillingham at the weekend.

There were two changes from Saturday with David Syers earning a starting spot over Ricky Ravenhill, who he had replaced at half-time, and Rob Kozluk taking over from Simon Ramsden at right back.

It was the first time Syers had begun a game at Valley Parade since he got sent off against Shrewsbury on New Year’s Eve.

Reid immediately skied a free-kick from 25 yards out after Dagnall had been blocked off by Pablo Mills. But City failed to clear a long ball from Kyle McFadzean and Alexander headed an early chance wide.

Dagnall latched on to Oliver’s pass to fire narrowly across goal, before keeper Michel Kuipers clawed a Craig Fagan shot away from the top corner after Syers had worked Reid’s cross on to the skipper.

The game was warming up on the pitch and the touchline where antagonistic Crawley boss Evans had a few histrionics with the fourth official.

His side were certainly a danger going forward and Leon Clarke whipped an angled drive just past the far post. McLaughlin also had to watch his feet carefully as he stretched to catch a header from Sergio Torres on his line.

Then Dagnall was harshly pulled up for handball five yards outside the City box but the fiercely-struck free-kick from Scott Davies was scrambled clear.

There were too many stoppages to allow the game to flow and Evans seemed to spend half his time with arms outstretched protesting to the referee.

He even argued as Hope Akpan became the first name in referee Iain Williamson’s book after flattening Kozluk. Reid’s free-kick was nodded into the mix by Oliver but James Hanson was ruled offside – there had been too many of them already.

Crawley threatened again as Torres skipped inside Kozluk’s sliding challenge but his dinked cross was well taken by McLaughlin.

City needed to get Reid involved more. The winger did show some neat feet to find room among three white shirts but then wasted it with a weak shot that dribbled through to Kuipers.

The Crawley keeper then gifted City a corner with a weak punch behind. Fagan kept it low in a clearly rehearsed routine as a bunch of home players ran in but Kuipers smothered before Hanson could get close.

Crawley had the final efforts of a bitty half. David Haye lookalike left back Dean Howell smashed a 30-yard free-kick into the Kop and Davies galloped menacingly into the corner of the box but his cross was behind any target.

For all the effort and huff and puff, there had only been one genuine scoring chance at either end when Kuipers denied Fagan.

But Crawley came back out with an extra edge and were in front nine minutes in. Davies whipped a free-kick to the far post where Clarke was left unchallenged to nod firmly past McLaughlin.

It was a shock for City and Parkinson responded straight away with a double switch, taking off both full backs. Kozluk and Matt Fry had both had a tough night.

On came Nahki Wells and Ravenhill as City switched once again to the 3-4-1-2 set-up that had worked so effectively chasing the game against Gillingham three days earlier. Dagnall took up the role playing just behind the front two.

The crowd came to life as Kuipers was booked for time-wasting. The Dutchman had already been warned on several occasions before he dawdled again over taking a free-kick.

Davies quickly followed with Crawley’s third yellow for knocking down Reid, a decision which drew yet more arm-waving protests from the Crawley dugout.

Clarke then became booking number four for a late lunge on Ravenhill, who needed treatment before he was able to carry on.

It could have got worse for City as Josh Simpson’s pass was allowed to travel straight through to Torres on the edge of the penalty area but his snapshot was fired straight at a relieved McLaughlin.

Ravenhill was still struggling from the whack on his ankle and the sub had to be subbed as Michael Flynn took over with 19 minutes left.

Flynn had not even touched the ball before City were back on level terms with a goal very similar to Crawley’s. Reid hit the angled free-kick into the box where Dagnall’s header beat Kuipers and nestled in the bottom corner of the net.

Reid’s part in the goal was acknowledged by Parkinson and the winger exchanged high-fives with his manager during the celebrations.

Flynn needed only three minutes to pick up the first home booking – but Crawley needed only five to restore their lead.

Davies beat his City namesake for pace on the touchline and clipped a hanging cross over the goalmouth. Oliver frantically tried to reach it but Alexander was coming in behind him to apply the decisive touch.

As City scrambled for a second equaliser, Hanson blasted a close-range shot at Mills – who had just been booked. But the home appeals for handball against the Crawley skipper were ignored.

Reid had a shot saved at the near post and Hanson flashed a header wide. Then Davies was thwarted by a last-ditch block as City queued up in the Crawley penalty area.

Tempers exploded after the final whistle as Davies clashed with Crawley sub Davis. The pair were pulled apart by team-mates – only for Davies to chase after the Jamaican again.

Oliver and McLaughlin also got involved and punches were thrown as a scrum quickly formed. Stewards ran on to the pitch before order was eventually restored, with punishment from the referee then following.

Attendance: 9,973