Little reward for Bradford

Eight goals, four penalties - three scored, one missed. Five bookings, one sending-off and a stunning Dean Windass hat-trick.

But once the frenzy of yesterday's extraordinary relegation battle between Bradford and Derby County at Valley Parade has died down, the bare statistics are likely to tell a different story.

That Bradford simply were not good enough to extend their Premiership adventure beyond one season.

This 4-4 draw with Derby, one of the most remarkable matches of this or any other Premiership season, broke a six-game losing sequence for the Bantams - but it left them five points off safety. Paul Jewell's men gave their all, clawing back from the hammer blow of conceding a goal to Rory Delap after just 21 seconds and a second to Branko Strupar six minutes later to actually lead before the half hour.

It was 4-3 to Bradford at halftime and Delap had departed for the pushing offence which allowed Peter Beagrie to put the home side ahead from the penalty spot.

But still they could not hold on to the lead they so desperately needed, Craig Burley hitting the only goal after the interval with his second penalty of the match and then, with 10 minutes to go, failing with a chance to win it for Derby and complete his spot-kick hat-trick.

Down 2-0 Bradford summoned up a remarkable recovery. Dean Windass chested down and lashed home a left-foot shot after 10 minutes. Eight minutes later he equalised with a similar effort from 25 yards.

When Beagrie slotted home a penalty, Bradford on 26 minutes, unbelievably, were ahead.

And still the action continued unabated. Scarcely had the home fans regained their seats than Burley was equalising with a penalty at the other end.

On the stroke of half-time, another cracking effort from Windass completed his hat-trick. Burley's equaliser after the break brought the scoring to an end.

Bradford's reward for these 90 minutes of pulsating drama will likely be a lot more harsh.

Bradford: Clarke, McCall, Wetherall, Westwood (Saunders 71), Blake, Beagrie, O'Brien, Windass, Halle, Dreyer, Jacobs (Rankin 77). Subs Not Used: Todd, Sharpe, Davison. Booked: Westwood, Halle, Windass, Dreyer. Goals: Windass 11, 18, Beagrie 27 pen, Windass 44.

Derby: Poom, Carbonari, Powell, Dorigo, Johnson, Delap, Christie, Laursen, Elliott, Burley, Strupar (Kinkladze 65). Subs Not Used: Oakes, Schnoor, Jackson, Riggott. Sent Off: Delap (26). Booked: Johnson, Christie, Carbonari. Goals: Delap 1, Strupar 6, Burley 36 pen, 52 pen.

Referee: A Wilkie (Chester le Street).