Everton 2, Bradford City 1: Perhaps Everton had wrapped up the title and the FA Cup, but just hadn't bothered to tell anyone.

It must have been pretty special whatever it was, judging by the way the whole ground partied at the final whistle.

Players hugged, fans jumped up and down and the announcer - as announcers do - shouted inanely.

No, they had just achieved the magnificent feat of beating the bottom team - something that had happened only 19 times before this season.

The big thing was in breaking the 40-point barrier - and therefore guaranteeing another chance to under-achieve in the Premiership next season. That's something worth partying about.

But there was little emotion the other side of the fence where Bradford City's relegation had just been rubber-stamped.

The fat lady had not only sung, but taken her final encore and was no doubt in the taxi home ready to tuck into a late-night pie. The Bantams are back in Division One from August.

Yet there were no tears, no gnashing of teeth, no squaring up to their jigging opponents. Anticipation of the drop, and we've all seen it coming since that dreadful slump last autumn, has removed a lot of the sting.

The biggest grumble about City's predictable demise this year has been the lack of drama, the absence of those heart-stopping moments to look back on and wonder "if only . . ."

So good old City decided to dish them up in dollops on their day of destiny. A goal up in two minutes, two missed penalties - this lot sure weren't going quietly.

Boss Jim Jefferies said: "We decided a few weeks ago we would be very positive for the rest of the season, and we showed that.

"Everton were always going to be up for it and Duncan Ferguson and Kevin Campbell are a real handful. But we got off to a great start and had the chance to dent their enthusiasm from the penalty spot - unfortunately we didn't take it.

"Nobody can afford to miss two penalties in a game, and we paid the price. By missing them, we gave Everton the lift to go on and win it."

For a few mad moments midway through the first half, the thought that the Greatest Escape Of Them All might still be on must have crossed a few Claret and Amber minds.

It may have been the combination of ten minutes' sunshine and a few pre-match beers, but with City 1-0 up and the home fans on their team's back the wonderful dream was there.

Middlesbrough were losing, Derby were losing . . . and the Bantams were a goal ahead thanks to that most prolific of scorers, Andy Myers.

Three wins in a row? Only four to go, Derby get beaten twice more, and bingo!

Reality struck on the half-hour when Robbie Blake skipped through the Everton tackles like Billy Elliott and was suddenly bearing down on goal.

Blake wormed his way into the penalty area with only goalkeeper Paul Gerrard blocking his way. A second goal surely beckoned as Blake slid his shot past Gerrard's left hand - and a couple of yards wide of the left post.

A stunning goal had become a bad, bad miss. Veteran City watchers groaned as they could see what was to follow.

The half-time briefing was simple - keep it tight and don't let in an early goal. Sound advice if it's taken in.

Instead while Myers took 123 seconds to score in the first half, Ferguson took half that to cash in on sleepy defending from a throw-in to prod the ball through Gary Walsh's legs.

But . . . back came City as Beni Carbone hustled Steve Watson off the ball to win a penalty from the defender's clumsy attempt to recover.

Blake took the responsibility and drilled the ball firmly to the keeper's right where Gerrard, blamed for letting in a long-range free-kick in the recent Merseyside derby, proved he was better from 12 yards than 30 by plunging to save.

Inevitably Everton now found an extra gear to grab the lead themselves. Again the marking was not the best as Scott Gemmill's cross was diverted across the six-yard box via Robert Molenaar's head and Niclas Alexandersson swept home.

But . . . back came City once more. Myers obviously had a taste for goal now and pushed up for a header which struck the unfortunate Watson's arm. Penalty number two said referee Paul Durkin.

Carbone took the honour on a ground where he had flourished in the past with Sheffield Wednesday and Aston Villa. Unfortunately, he tried a passable Robbie Paul impression by chipping comfortably over the bar.

The disbelieving Gerrard said afterwards: "To say we were relieved is an understatement. It's very rare when you get two penalties given against you and to miss them both.

"After saving the first one, I thought we'd got away with it so I couldn't believe it when they got another. But when that ball went over the bar we knew it was going to be our day."

So did the Bantams, who threw men forward late on but knew their last chance had disappeared in row J.