BRADFORD City completed a rare double over United to end a seven-game winning run for the Gulls.

Despite an early opener from Danny Stevens, the visitors came back with two quickfire goals and then held on for a strong win against valiant Yellow pressure.

After an amazing recent sequence there was obvious disappointment in Yellow ranks but manager Martin Ling was in a philosophical mood in his post-match press conference.

"We didn't have enough lads out there playing to their potential but we also came up against a side that played a perfect game-plan," he said.

"Bradford's two best players were their centre-halves and sometimes you've got to give credit to the other team. The first goal they scored could have been stopped but their second was a super goal.

"It was a bit of a culture shock when they scored because we've not been conceding goals and everyone was a bit taken aback.

"It never quite happened for us today and [Bradford manager] Phil [Parkinson] had them set up right. Credit should be given to Bradford because my players gave me everything in terms of effort.

"In any game you play, you need eight of your players to be better than eight of theirs and we changed that around a bit after half-time. We got some more tempo and purpose to us in the second half but you can't keep pulling rabbits out of the hat.

"Seven wins on the trot is the best run I've had as a manager and we can still take some plaudits. We're disappointed on the day but the recent run has been superb and a defeat doesn't make them bad players.

"We have a hardworking bunch of lads who try to do things right but we just couldn't get through their back four.

"We have been sensational at home in recent times but Bradford are a team massively under where they should be. If you look at their players on a piece of paper, Bradford should be a lot higher and they performed today.

"It is maybe a reality check for us and we need to kick-on again. We have to come straight back in two difficult away games at Gillingham and Crawley."