BRADFORD City had implored fans to 'bring the noise' to their FA Cup replay against Reading and those who gathered to watch the televised match on Centenary Square's big screen tonight did their best to obey.

But by the time some of the gaggle of around 150 supporters had turned up, the decisive first few minutes of the match were already over, with the Bantams already two goals down.

And when Reading sealed the result with a third goal against a City team down to ten men, many of those drifted away leaving only a handful of ardent fans, some who refused to let defeat dampen their mood, with high-spirited chanting to the beat of a drum.

By the time the screen was switched off, it seemed there were almost as many stewards as viewers left in the square.

MORE BRADFORD CITY HEADLINES

Paul Callaghan, of Wibsey, said: "They seemed to lack some energy tonight. They have not played with the tempo we have seen from them, but they gave it all they could.

"They have given their best and not exactly let us down," he said.

Sisters Kimberley and Chloe Burns travelled from their home in Thornton to watch tonight's match and were disappointed with Bradford City's performance as well as the referee's decisions. "He was awful and I am disappointed," said Kimberley, with her sister adding: "We were expecting City to score, at least."

Mick Parkinson, of Holme Wood, said: "The ref has done the best he could but some of the Reading players seemed to have gone down pretty easily.

"One of their players went down every time someone went near him. The referee did what he needed to, but it wasn't a sending off, he could have just given him a ticking off.

"But they never let you down, you win some and lose some and you have to accept that you won't win every match. It is our team and that is what we get, super City, win or lose, good or bad," he said.

Nick O'Melia, of Cleckheaton added: "I think the referee could have been more lenient, I think it was a booking but not malicious. I think he could have shown a bit of common sense.

"That spoiled the game. Reading have been the better side. Their keeper has not had anything to do tonight, that is testament enough. I fancied us tonight, I really did, but it wasn't to be," he said.

Fan Keith Vickerman said he was surprised by Reading's early success in the game and said he had expected the referee to stop the game when a multi-coloured ball went bouncing down from the stand.

"I thought it was distracting," he said, adding: "I hadn't expected Reading to score like that, so early. It was a bit disappointing because after the first few minutes it was fairly even.

"There doesn't seem to have been the same good spirit there was in the first match, though," he said.

Despite the result, fans were critical of the decision to stage the replay so soon and to choose a Monday night for the fixture.

Ben Jacobs, of East Morton, Bingley, travelled to watch the action in Centenary Square and said: "It is too soon and it would have been hard for people to cancel work and sort out transport to get to the match, if they'd wanted to go.

"If it had been arranged a bit later, I would have gone to the match. It is impossible to arrange with this notice, though."

Gary Longfellow, who lives in Little Germany, said Reading was too far for him to travel but said it should have been played as a weekend fixture, to suit as many fans as possible.

He also questioned the policy of which matches were chosen to be televised by the BBC.

Mr Vickerman was more philosophical, however. He had turned up with friends equipped with folding chairs, blankets and coffee to help the evening along. "I think it's reasonable. It has to be fitted in somewhere," he said.