Famous five: Bradford City’s Premier League scalps

Capital One Cup fourth round - Wigan 0 Bradford 0 (Bradford win 4-2 on penalties), October 2012.

The Bantams’ challenge started to gather speed when they shocked Premier League opponents Wigan at the DW Stadium. The Latics created a host of opportunities but could not make a breakthrough during the 90 minutes or in extra-time. Shaun Maloney then blazed his penalty over and Jordi Gomez saw his saved as the visitors advanced to the last eight.

Capital One Cup quarter-final - Bradford 1 Arsenal 1 (Bradford win 3-2 on penalties), December 2012.

Bradford made everyone sit up and take notice after humbling Arsenal at Valley Parade. While they were grateful once more for penalties, Phil Parkinson’s side outplayed the Gunners for much of the encounter to reach a first ever semi-final. The spot-kick specialists won their ninth successive penalty shoot-out after Thomas Vermaelen struck the post. The Arsenal skipper had earlier appeared to rescue his side with a header three minutes from normal time to equalise Garry Thompson’s first-half volley.

Capital One Cup semi-final, first leg - Bradford 3 Aston Villa 1, January 2013.

Bradford were firm underdogs again but claimed a hat-trick of wins against Premier League opposition. Nahki Wells opened the scoring in the 19th minute and defender Rory McArdle headed home Gary Jones’ cross in the 77th minute. Villa, who spurned a hatful of chances in either half, grabbed a crucial late lifeline through Andreas Weimann before Carl McHugh restored the home side’s two-goal advantage with another header two minutes from the end. Although Parkinson’s men lost the second leg 2-1, they won 4-3 on aggregate to book a Wembley final against Swansea, which they lost 5-0.

FA Cup fourth round - Chelsea 2 Bradford 4, January 2015

Bradford brilliantly responded from two goals down to win 4-2 at Chelsea and dump the Barclays Premier League leaders out of the FA Cup at Stamford Bridge. League One City, who were 2-0 down to goals from Gary Cahill and Ramires after 38 minutes, claimed the biggest scalp of their recent giant-killing exploits with goals from Chelsea reject Filipe Morais, Jon Stead, Andy Halliday and substitute Mark Yeates to inflict the Blues’ first home loss this season and spark jubilant celebrations from Parkinson’s visitors.

FA Cup fifth round - Bradford 2 Sunderland 0, February 2015

The Bantams’ reward for their victory in west London was a home tie against Sunderland and they were right to have fancied their chances against Gus Poyet’s inconsistent Black Cats. They got off to a perfect start as John O’Shea deflected Billy Clarke’s third-minute effort into his own goal and a cool 61st-minute finish from Jon Stead sent City into the quarter-finals for the first time in 39 years.