A combination of injuries and, in Roy Keane's case, suspension meant Alex Ferguson fielded a team more in keeping with United's usual lukewarm forays in the Worthington Cup than the cut and thrust of the Premiership. Jonathan Greening, Ronnie Wallwork and Quinton Fortune were elevated from the reserves, while David Beckham continued where he left off in Paris at the weekend by operating in his preferred central role.
Perhaps mindful that United had grossed eight without reply in their two meetings with the same opposition last season, Ferguson also felt inclined to start with Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes keeping him company in the dugout.
After a strangely muted opening the hosts were quickly into their rhythm and once Andy Cole had put them ahead in the 11th minute, the first nauseating feelings of dej a vu must have gripped the Bradford supporters.
It was a goal owing much to extravagant good fortune but, as Cole will testify, they all count. The England forward had scampered clear on the right of the penalty area and was found by Teddy Sheringham's inch-perfect pass. Cole's first-time shot should not have carried much danger to Matt Clarke but the ball ricocheted off Peter Atherton's instep, looping over the stranded goalkeeper into an empty net.
If Bradford felt hard done by, it was nothing compared with the bristling sense of injustice oozing from every Yorkshire pore when United doubled their lead 12 minutes later. In the build-up, Gary Neville had won possession by scything through the back of Dean Windass's calves. Inexplicably, it went unpunished by referee Rob Harris and United steamed upfield. Beckham crossed from the right and, even though Cole missed his header, Fortune was loitering in the shadows to pounce.
After the interval, United could even indulge in some show-boating, Fortune netting a tremendous dipping shot on the hour for United's third.
Eleven minutes later, Sheringham made it 4-0 with a spectacular right-foot volley from 20 yards out. Then, on 81 minutes, his second preluded Beckham's 85th-minute strike.
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