Watford 1 Bradford City 2: Bantams joy after perfect timing by Thompson

Thompson struck after home goalkeeper Jonathan Bond had only half-cleared Kyel Reid’s free-kick with the game seemingly heading for extra-time.

City were lively in the first half and on another night might have had at least one penalty with Zavon Hines bundled over in the area and a defender appearing to handle, but the referee was unmoved.

They also had a couple of decent chances with Alan Connell striking a post from 10 yards after Hines had miscued a volley and Jones forcing a full-length save from Jonathan Bond in the home goal.

Watford, playing neat, patient football, also had a couple of good opportunities but Geoffrey Mujangi Bia curled a shot wide and Steve Beleck’s well-struck effort from the right was pushed round a post by John McLaughlin.

Watford looked more comfortable on the ball after the break and Ikechi Anya fired an effort wide on the hour before putting them ahead after 71 minutes with a 25-yard drive.

That looked to be it for City, but they showed great character to force their way back into the contest and were level with five minutes remaining.

Rory McArdle, impressive in the heart of the defence, played a free-kick into the box and when Watford failed to clear, Reid pounced with an unstoppable shot.

The game was heading for an extra 30 minutes at that stage, but Thompson had other ideas.

Watford: Bond; Hodson, Taylor, Thompson, Dickenson; Jenkins, Hogg (Abdi 77), Fortsyth; Anya (Murray 80), Beleck, Mujangi Bia (Vydra 57). Unused substitutes: Almunia, Doyley, Garner, Cassetti

Bradford City: McLaughlin; Darby, McHugh, Oliver, McArdle; Jones, Meredith (Hanson 75), Jones (Doyle 60), Hines (Reid 58), Atkinson; Thompson, Connell. Unused substitutes: Duke, Hannah, Baker, Bass

Referee: C Sarginson.