The drift of Premiership clubs out of the FA Cup reached double figures last night when Bradford received a humbling from Gillingham.
Although Dean Saunders reduced the deficit, the home team promptly went to the other end to score a third through a deflected John Hodge shot and confirmed their place in the fifth round against either Sheffield Wednesday or Wolves.
Gillingham's goal six minutes before the break was a masterpiece of improvisation from Andy Thomson, who took advantage of hesitation by Ashley Westwood and Matt Clarke to lob over the stranded goalkeeper.
Bad became worse for Bradford early in the second half. Paul Smith drew an acrobatic save from Clarke and from the corner Gillingham extended their lead, Guy Butters rising to nod on the fly-kick and Barry Ashby gaining the vital touch.
Gillingham: Bartram, Southall, Ashby, Bryant, Butters, Edge, Hessenthaler, Smith, Lewis, Hodge, Thomson (Nosworthy 55). Subs Not Used: Mitten, McGlinchey, Butler, Browning. Goals: Thomson 39, Ashby 54, Hodge 78.
Bradford: Clarke, Halle (Lawrence 59), O'Brien, Westwood, Sharpe, Blake, Redfearn, Windass (Rankin 65), Beagrie, Mills (McCall 43), Saunders. Subs Not Used: Dreyer, Taylor. Goals: Saunders 77.
Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury).
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