The cheer at the final whistle from the Kop also served to illustrate the importance of victory to Leeds United.

These two West Yorkshire neighbours had last met in Premier League days and a reunion after seven years was a big box office draw.

Although the gate just failed to beat the 21,390 who watched Sheffield Wednesday play Blackpool four years ago it was still a testimony to the rivalry that exists between the two clubs.

On a night of passion and local pride, Bradford City nearly upset the odds.

A second-half goal from Barry Conlon set up a tense finale after first-half strikes from Andy Robinson and Luciano Becchio put Leeds in the driving seat.

But Leeds, despite making seven changes, held on and will have hopes of going all the way to Wembley.

Bradford manager Stuart McCall had made the maximum number of changes allowed under competition rules – five – ensuring no repeat of the financial penalty incurred for fielding a weakened side in the first round last season against Doncaster Rovers.

Gary McAllister's decision to make so many changes to the Leeds side, however, might yet raise eyebrows at Football League headquarters.

Strikers Jermaine Beckford and Luciano Becchio and midfielder Fabian Delph and defender Bradley Johnson had all dropped to the bench while Jonathan Douglas, Lubomir Michalik and Andrew Hughes were injured.

The seven players who returned to the side were Rui Marques, David Prutton, Jonathan Howson, Andy Robinson, Enoch Showunmi, Robert Snodgrass and teenager Aidan White.

Leeds got off to a flying start thanks to a handball in the area by Bradford midfielder Paul McLaren after just seven minutes.

McLaren stretched out an arm to stop Showunmi chesting down a cross from Snodgrass and referee Andy Taylor immediately pointed to the spot.

Summer signing Robinson duly converted the penalty with the minimum of fuss to notch his second goal for his new club.

Bradford, who have made a promising start to the season in League Two, reacted well to the early setback and soon put Leeds under pressure.

Striker Conlon was narrowly beaten to Omar Daley's low cross by goalkeeper David Lucas and a penalty appeal from Daley was then waved away following a tussle with Leeds captain Frazer Richardson.

Bradford had a 'goal' narrowly disallowed for offside when Joe Colbeck's shot was blocked on the line by Richardson and Daley tapped in the rebound.

Moments later, Colbeck vented his frustration by smashing the ball into the back of Snodgrass who was laying on the ground injured.

His petulance deservedly brought a caution but also sparked a period of robust challenges from both sides.

The fans appeared to love it and, hardly surprisingly, Snodgrass was next in the book for a late lunge on the livewire Daley.

Bradford's only victory in 12 competitive visits to Elland Road had been 22 years ago in the Full Members Cup.

Roared on by 4,000 vociferous travelling fans – who spent most of the night proclaiming their dislike for Leeds – McCall's side put on a spirited display but lacked a cutting edge in front of goal.

The decision to start without main strikers Peter Thorne and Michael Boulding had not helped and, just moments before Leeds doubled their advantage, Conlon turned a free header wide.

Let off the hook, Leeds charged down the other end of the pitch and Robinson hit the crossbar with a blistering 30-yard drive.

From a resulting corner, substitute Becchio – on for the injured Showunmi – rose unmarked to head past Rhys Evans.

Leeds had more or less done the hard part in the first half and now only needed a third goal to end the game as a contest. Yet, as far as Bradford were concerned, this game was far from over.

Richardson had hit the post for Leeds and a shot from Robinson had been tipped over the bar by Evans.

But with 20 minutes to go, Bradford were given a lifeline by Conlon, converting a low cross from Daley.

The final stages may have been nervy for Leeds but they had just done enough to retain the West Yorkshire bragging rights.



Leeds United: Lucas; Richardson, Marques, Huntington, White (Delph 86); Kilkenny; Prutton, Howson, (Johnson 71); Snodgrass, Showunmi (Becchio 29), Robinson. Unused substitutes: Ankergren, Beckford..

Bradford City: Evans; Moncur, Lee, Bower, Heckingbottom; Colbeck, McLaren, Furman (Bullock 86), Nix (Boulding 89), Daley; Conlon. Unused substitutes: McLaughlin, Arnison, Thorne.

Referee: A Taylor (Greater Manchester).