Lee Richardson was forced into two changes and elected to make a third, to the line-up that beat Accrington on Saturday. Jack Lester's broken nose we knew about, but Jamie Ward's absence, with a tight hamstring, took everyone by surprise. David Dowson and Steve Fletcher thus started up front. Gregor Robertson moved from left midfield to left back, replacing Peter Hartley, who dropped to the bench. Adam Smith and Brendan Moloney were welcome additions to the substitute strength.

Chesterfield made a decent, measured start. Fletch found Dowson with a knock-down on 3 and he worked it towards Picken, but the ball was cleared. Picken was involved in getting the ball into the Bradford box on 6, but Weatherall cleared. Chesterfield looked the more comfortable side in the first ten minutes.

City's first effort came from Thorne, on 13, but it didn't trouble Roche in the visitors' net. Thorne was more accurate on 15, though, getting on the end of Starosa's cross to plant a free header past Roche, despite the keeper getting a hand to it. 1-0 City.

Having taken the lead City relaxed, and played the better football, looking to increase their lead against a Spireites side that seemed to lose its shape a little. Chesterfield clawed their way back into the game, at least in terms of share of play, thanks to determined work by Kerry, particularly.

Niven crossed on 36 after Dowson worked the ball wide well, but Fletcher was unable to make firm contact at the far post. City broke with Topp, but Niven was on hand to clear the danger.

Colbeck took a short free kick to Nix as stoppage time commenced but the end product was poor, and the free kick was wasted. The game was becoming drab as Bradford, in command, lacked the quality to build on their lead in a convincing manner, and Chesterfield lacked the impetus, organisation and width to mount a convincing comeback.

Both sides were probably grateful for the half-time break.

Chesterfield tried to press after the re-start. A Lowry shot was unfortunately blocked by Dowson; Robertson skied a cross but the City goalkeeper flapped under pressure, almost letting Fletcher in.Dowson broke into the penalty area but was baulked by an outstretched arm after flicking ball over a defender- the referee declined to award a penalty.

Topp got as far as the Spireites six-yard box but was stopped by Niven, at the expense of the game's first corner, on 55. Nix went through on Dowson, who seemed to have been identified as the principal threat by the City team.

Adam Smith replaced Jamie Lowry on 57, while City brought Eddie Johnson on for Rhodes. David Brown replaced Topp on 63. Brown beat Downes and crossed to Thorne, whose effort cannoned off Kovacs for a corner, which Downes cleared.

Moloney replaced Robertson on 66. City brought everyone back to defend a free kick which Kerry took on 67, but his effort came back off the wall. Dowson got a shot away on 68 but Loach saved; Leven look poised to pick up the afters but Kerry came in front of him. The ball was cleared and Kovacs was booked for a foul on Starosa.

Smith's cross to Fletcher was cleared for a corner which Kerry took on 70. Johnson headed it away for another; Kerry took that and it fell to Smith, who knocked it over from only a couple of yards with the goal at his mercy. The Spireites were unquestionably brighter and were having the greater share of the ball - with men absent up front, though, would they be able to conjure an equaliser?

Fletcher shot over the bar on 75. Downes was harshly booked for a foul on Brown after the diminutive chap was knocked off the ball by a bigger man. Nix took the free kick but the shot struck Downes and went out for a corner. Dowson broke through on 78 but Loach pulled off a great save to deny him, at the expense of a corner. Chesterfield kept the ball from the clearance and Kerry shot narrowly wide.

Winter replaced Niven on 80. Brown tumbled under a Kerry challenge to win a free kick on 81. The free kick came to Thorne who shot well, but Roche equalled it with a fine save. Conlon replace Thorne on 86 and headed over the bar almost immediately. Winter fired a fine shot at the Bradford goal but Loch pulled off another top-class save to preserve City's lead. Straight away Winter was back at the other end to deny Brown. Leven fed Kerry who shot, but Loach had a more comfortable time with this effort. A fine Smith cross was cleared, and City were left hanging on by their knicker elastic as Smith and Winter both put in balls that were cleared frantically. Roche came up for a corner on 91. As the four minutes of added time unfolded, though, City were able to slow it down enough to halt Chesterfield's momentum.