The Reds reach the knockout stage of the Checkatrade Trophy with yet another home victory!
A George Moncur brace was enough to see off Bradford City here at Oakwell with the Reds battling to victory after losing red-carded Adam Jackson with more than 10 minutes left to play.
The visitors had taken the lead on eight minutes when David Ball curled home a special finish from just inside the box.
But Daniel Stendel's side were on top for the most part and Moncur thought he'd equalised on 10 minutes, as did the fans but his effort went into the side netting.
But Moncur did level up for the Reds on 28 minutes when he half-volley home from 12 yards out following Dani Pinillos' low cross.
Jackson was booked just before the break when he uphended Sherwin Seedorf 30 yards from goal, and Jack Walton then superbly clawed the direct free kick away from his top corner.
HALF TIME: Reds 1-1 City
Just on the hour mark, Walton pulled off another world class save, one-handed to deny Jack Payne who looked certain to score.
The Reds grabbed the crucial go-ahead strike when a flowing move down the left flank saw Pinillos and Ryan Hedges combine beautifully before the latter found Moncur inside the box and the number 10 spun his marker before curling home a terrific finish.
On 75 minutes came a bizarre minute of football. Jackson and Kai Brunker collided with each other going for a tackle, the ball found its way to a Bradford forward who was denied once more by Walton.
Brunker had to be replaced, Jackson was shown a second yellow and the Reds were left to see out the game with just 10 men.
There was notable debuts for Will Smith in defence, and 16-year-old Jordan Helliwell as Stendel's young side held out, to make their way into the knockout stage of the competition.
FULL TIME: Reds 2-1 City
Davies, J.Williams, Jackson, B.Williams, Pinillos, Brown (Isgrove), Bird, Bähre, Moncur (Smith), Adeboyejo (Helliwell), Hedges.
Att: 2,925 (91 Bradford)
