Bradford City 2 Sheffield United 0: Wells wins Yorkshire derby

Both sides were unchanged for the first meeting between the clubs since 2004.

James Hanson (hand) and Mark Yeates (knee) passed late fitness tests for the Bantams, for whom striker Nahki Wells was aiming to become the first player to score in eight successive matches for the club.

In a cut and thrust first half Wells forced a smart save from George Long and Jon McLaughlin also punched away a shot from Febian Brandy, who was also denied by a last-ditch tackle by Bradford central defender Rory McArdle before a 25-yard snap-shot from Wells against tested Long.

Long also did well to keep out a curling 28-yard free-kick from former Blades winger Yeates before Wells broke City’s scoring record by turning Neil Collins on the right of the area and driving a low shot beyond Long’s outstretched right hand to make it 1-0 in the 45th minute.

Substitutes Ryan Flynn and Joe Ironside gave the Blades fresh impetus after the break - Callum McFadzean replaced at the interval and Brandy limping off soon after. But although they had a spell where they forced five corners, the closest they came was when a shot from Flynn deflected off Stephen Darby and McLaughlin had to tip the looping ball over the bar.

Wells remained a menace at the other end and Kyel Reid added a further injection of pace as he replaced Yeates.

The Blades also sacrificed defender Sean McGinty for striker Chris Porter in the closing stages, Raffaele De Vita having come on for City in place of Garry Thompson.

Wells wrapped up the points when he scuffed the ball home after Long had parried De Vita’s shot and Hanson had won the ensuing header for his strike partner.