Bradford City 2, Derby 0

Ward put City in front after 15 minutes from Jess's cross and Jess made sure of three points three minutes from the end with a shot that appeared to take a deflection off Ward as it went into the net.

Boss Jim Jefferies named the side that beat Charlton for a game City had to win or face the threat of relegation by 4.50pm.

But midfielder Jamie Lawrence returned as one of the substitutes after two months out of action with a broken hand, which had ruled him out of a loan move to Huddersfield.

Derby, who could still be dragged back into the dogfight, were missing captain Darryl Powell with a knee injury and Taribo West who was away on World Cup duty with Nigeria.

Before the game, both teams observed a minute's silence for referee Mike North who died last week while officiating a Third Division match.

Around 1,500 fans were in the newly-opened upper tier of the Sunwin Stand but the first action they saw from their lofty perch was Derby on the attack.

Goalkeeper Mart Poom launched a long clearance which was allowed to travel unchecked to Deon Burton on the right angle of City's penalty area. The Jamaican international took a step inside before half-volleying across goal and wide.

Gunnar Halle earned the Bantams an early corner and Gareth Whalley's kick was flicked off Andy Myers' head by Horatio Carbonari.

After ten minutes Halle dispossessed Lee Morris on halfway to spark another City raid as Eoin Jess teed up Benito Carbone for a drive straight at Poom.

City nearly got caught when Robert Molenaar was robbed by Morris on the touchline but Myers covered quickly to make a telling block inside the area.

Giorgi Kinkladze's first involvement won Derby their first corner in the 13th minute off Wayne Jacobs but it came to nothing.

It was a very open start to the game and City immediately forced a free-kick at the other end as Chris Riggott clipped Robbie Blake. Carbone's shot was too hot to handle for Poom who punched it out to Myers, but the keeper redeemed himself by saving the defender's header.

Poom had no chance though when City took a 16th-minute lead with a slick passing move master-minded by Stuart McCall.

The skipper's darting run opened up Derby's defence before releasing Jess on the right. He played a low cross to the near post where Ashley WARD slid in to score against his old club.

It was only the striker's second Premiership goal for City and with home tails up, Blake threatened to add to their tally as he slipped inside Carbonari before Paul Boertien blocked him ten yards out.

Carbone made a monkey out of Boertien with some quick feet on the byline before laying the ball back to Halle. The Norwegian's shot slammed straight into Adam Murray but ref Neale Barry ignored appeals for handball.

City continued to press and Ward had the chance of a second but looped a header over from Jacobs' short cross.

But Derby flashed a warning signal in the 28th minute when Burton was allowed a free header from Kinkladze's corner which landed just past the post.

Halle was getting forward on the right and from his deep cross four minutes later, Blake flicked a header back to Whalley charging in. But he couldn't get a proper connection and Poom jumped on his line to make a save.

Boertien received the first yellow card after 35 minutes for kicking the ball away. Further dissent advanced the free-kick inside the Derby penalty area but Blake blazed high into the Symphony Stand.

City weren't playing with the air of a side with one foot in the Nationwide League and pulled apart Derby's defence at will as they probed for a second goal.

But in stoppage time, Morris eluded Halle to pick out Seth Johnson for a ten-yard shot which was anxiously watched wide by Gary Walsh.

Carbone was having another lively game on the right and from one of his crosses after 48 minutes Ward headed wide.

Halle was injured in the Derby penalty area after a City attack, but resumed after treatment.

A good move involving Blake, Ward and Carbone broke down just inside the penalty area and Derby broke away swiftly before McCall brought down Kinkladze some 25 yards from goal.

Carbonari's fierce free kick was palmed out by Walsh to Delap who looked certain to score from the rebound, but Walsh managed to get the faintest of touches on the ball to turn it away for a corner.

The City keeper then saved a shot from Kinkladze as City struggled to clear the corner.

Eventually the danger was cleared, and a minute later Derby were reduced to ten men when Johnson received his marching orders for a two-footed tackle on McCall which left the City captain sprawling in agony.

Derby made a change after 62 mintues, bringing on Malcolm Christie for the ineffective Morris.

City continued to look lively in attack and Jacobs went close with a left foot shot.

Then Ward and Jess linked neatly, but Blake could not manage to turn in the Scot's low cross.

Play swung to the other end and Myers did well to block Burton's effort as Christie set up a Derby break.

Jess continued to be the creative force behind City's attacks, but when he played the ball back into the path of Blake, the striker sliced his shot wide.

City nearly scored after 73 minutes when Carbone played the ball through to Whalley but he was robbed by a desperate visitor's defence.

Then, Carbone turned the ball in from the left before testing Poom with a rasping right foot shot.

Derby claimed a penalty after 81 minutes after Whalley had put City in trouble with a back pass that failed to reach Ward.

The ball was intercepted by Christie before substitute Toddi Gudjonsson appeared to be brought down by Jacobs. City supporters held their breath expecting a penalty, but the referee booked the Derby player apparently for diving and awarded City a free kick.

City made sure of the points three minutes from the end when Carbone found JESS with a cross from the right and Jess's shot appeared to take a deflection off Ward as it went into the net to the delight of the City fans.