Rivers sinks Bradford to further Canaries cause

Norwich City 3 Bradford City

A thrilling contest with two penalties and five goals was given the ending it deserved when Mark Rivers scored a late winner to bring Norwich City victory over Bradford at Carrow Road yesterday. The result maintains Norwich's hopes of making the play-offs.

The midfielder's 86th-minute drive puts Norwich within two points of sixth-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers but having played a game more.

Danny Forrest had given Bradford a deserved 1-0 half-time lead when the 18-year-old converted Claus Jorgensen's cross just before the break.

Norwich, who were missing top scorer Paul McVeigh and on-loan David Healy – both on international duty with Northern Ireland – levelled the match four minutes into the second half when Rivers scored from the penalty spot after Ben Muirhead had fouled Adam Drury.

Six minutes later, Zema Abbey put Norwich ahead with a terrific goal when he received a Steen Nedergaard pass on the edge of the area, turned and unleashed a left-foot shot into the top corner.

Bradford were awarded a penalty of their own in the 68th minute after Darel Russel fouled Muirhead and Jorgensen converted.

Norwich then poured forward searching for the winning goal and substitutes Iwan Roberts and Ian Henderson both put headers wide before Rivers' strike had the Canaries supporters chirping.

Norwich City 3
Rivers pen 49, 86, Abbey 54

Bradford City 2
Forrest 42, Jorgensen pen 68

Half-time: 0-1 Attendance: 18,536