Following the euphoria of Thursday's UEFA Cup victory against Roma, it's back to the Premiership on Sunday - with a trip to local rivals, Bradford City.

Bradford are still flirting with relegation but, in actual fact, have built up a good record at Valley Parade. Not only are they unbeaten there since October but during that time they have managed victories against both Chelsea and Arsenal. Clearly, on their day, they can be a match for anyone.

It goes without saying that we desperately need to get something out of the game - preferably three points - if we are to keep up any sort of pressure on Manchester United, who entertain Derby County on Saturday afternoon.

Team news for us is reasonable although, of course, we will be without Harry, who is suspended. It will be the second time this season that he will have missed meeting our local rivals. O'Leary has to decide whether to bring in Smithy or Huckerby to replace him - with the former the favourite. Woodgate is trying to shake off an ankle injury. However, with Haaland magnificent on Thursday, he may decide to stick with him. He certainly deserves a chance after recent impressive performances.

The Bradford and Bingley Stadium was full to the rafters for our visit and there was a real cup tie atmosphere in the air. O'Leary stood by the team that performed heroics on Thursday night, the only change being Smithy coming in for the suspended Kewell.

Leeds started the better off the two sides and Bridges could have done better as early as the fourth minute: his glancing header going well wide when he found himself in a promising position.

Bradford, though, were still causing a few problems. There were half hearted appeals - from the Bradford supporters at least - for a penalty, when Saunders and Radebe went down in a heap together in the area, then a long range effort by Saunders was hit directly at Martyn.

In the 12th minute, however, we took the lead. Ian Harte took a free kick from the left which was met by Bridges in the box. He got in ahead of Wetherall to direct the ball - off his thigh - past the stranded Southall.

Two minutes later, we should have doubled our lead. A superb build up saw Bridges play a lovely pass through to McPhail on the left, who expertly and unselfishly squared the ball across the face of goal to Smith. However, somehow, with the whole of the goal to aim at, he contrived to side foot his effort wide. How often have we siad that of late?

Until this point, we had looked in control. Now, though Bradford started to have much more of a say. On 25 minutes Beagrie shot from distance, then there was a scare from a Bradford corner, when Smith did well in defence after Wetherall had won the initial header.

On the half hour mark, Harte tried his luck with a free kick from 35 yards but Southall saved easily, then just minutes later it was the home side's turn again: Kelly was caught asleep on the Leeds' right, Beagrie got the better of Radebe surprisingly easily but then missed the target when he should have done better.

On 34 minutes, we put together another beautiful move. Bridges, Harte and Wilcox were all involved but Bradford managed to force the ball away for a corner, then Bridges put Bowyer away with a long through ball but Southall got there first.

With five minutes of the first half remaining, there was another penalty appeal from the home side. Bakke leaned in on Saunders but it would have been a harsh decision had it gone against us. Harte was booked on 43 minutes and could have been sent off on the strike of half time following a clash with Windass. The latter, though, could also consider himself fortunate to remain on the pitch after raising his arm in retaliation.

As the whistle finally blew, we could consider ourselves perhaps a little fortunate to still be in the lead, following a spirited Bradford fight back. However, Martyn hadn't really been tested and had Smithy put away that earlier 'sitter', things might have been very different.

In the second half, things started very much as before, with the home side pressing for an equaliser. Their determination however was starting to lead to one or two fruity tackles: notably on Radebe, Haaland and Bridges. Of course, as Bradford find themselves third in the 'Fair Play' league, there wasn't a yellow card to be seen. Earlier in the season such play would have resulted in three automatic yellows - or worse.

We still weren't really taking control of the game. When chances came, they tended to be long range or speculative efforts that didn't exactly make Southall break sweat. Bridges' effort was straight at the Bradford keeper, then Bowyer's shot was blocked by O'Brien.

With the hour mark approaching, Haaland made a couple of clumsy, if not malicious, tackles which led to him being given his last warnings by Mr Durkin, then Wetherall's header caused panic amongst the United defence as it dropped just too far from Saunders.

On 64 minutes, perhaps slightly against the run of play, we took a two goal lead. When the ball came across the Bradford box, Smith couldn't connect but neither could the home side clear it away. In the end, Smithy got to the ricochet ahead of Southall. to square it back across the area. Bakke couldn't quite connect but it fell to Bridges, who thumped it into the roof of the net.

For a few moments it looked as though we might really put the pressure on and get a hatful but Bradford wouldn't lie down and die. They continued to press forward and ten minutes later got their reward. As the ball fell to Beagrie well outside the area, there didn't appear to be a great deal of danger. However he unleashed an unstoppable drive into the upper left corner of Martyn's goal which gave Nigel no chance. Suddenly the home side were in with a real shout of grabbing at least a point.

The rest of the game was, for the most part, backs to the wall stuff although Martyn was never really stretched with Radebe enjoying another near faultless performance. The ball seemed to spend an eternity buzzing around the edge of the Leeds area and Martyn's frustration at the proceedings was shown when he seemed to have a kick at Bradford substitute Cadette as the forward followed through after the ball. The last five minutes saw every Leeds move aim towards the corner flag where they tried to waste as much of the remaining tome as possible: a credit to the battling performance that the home side had put in.

At the end of the day, though, we earned another three points to keep the pressure up on Manchester United. Once more, we had shown that as well as playing attractive football we can, when the need arises, battle our way to victory.

United Star Man: Michael Bridges