Sutton slipped to another narrow defeat in a game where the balance of play suggested that U’s deserved at least a draw but the failure to make the most of chances proved costly.

On a heavy surface that deteriorated as rain set in during the afternoon, Sutton made a good start but Bradford had the first clear chances, both falling to leading scorer Andy Cook, who shot wildly over after Brad Halliday had been allowed to cut in from the right and pull the ball back, and then put a header straight at Dean Bouzanis from a Clarke Oduor cross, the keeper’s reflexes keeping the ball out from close range. Sutton then had a chance when Ben Goodliffe failed to direct a diving header in the six yard box from a Charlie Lakin corner, and just before half time Lee Angol, who had just been booked, curled a free kick narrowly wide after Joe Kizzi had been fouled 25 yards out.

U’s were out of the blocks quickly in the second half and Harry Smith twice had opportunities, first cutting in from the right and seeing a low shot saved by Sam Walker, who then denied Smith with a brilliant close range stop after Angol had headed back Lakin’s cross from the left, Lakin blazing the rebound high over the bar. It proved a crucial save, as moments later Walker caught a Craig Eastmond cross and immediately launched a counter attack which saw Halliday and Oduor combine to send Calum Kavanagh through to hammer a shot past the advancing Bouzanis.

The Sutton keeper did well to deny Cook soon afterwards after the bustling striker had shrugged off Goodliffe’s challenge, and Oduor sent a shot too close to Bouzanis, who also saved well from Halliday before the end, but Sutton still had chances, Smith heading over at full stretch from Stephen Duke-McKenna’s cross, and almost grabbed what would have been a deserved point when substitute Olly Sanderson turned on to a Craig Eastmond pass in the third minutes of stoppage time and hit a crisp low shot which was pushed away by Walker to preserve Bradford’s lead.

Sutton: D Bouzanis, R Jackson, N Adom-Malaki, J Kizzi, B Goodliffe, C Eastmond, D Moore (sub S Duke-McKenna 61), C Lakin, H Smith, L Angol (sub O Sanderson 61), O Patrick. Subs n/u O Sowunmi, C N’Guessan, S Arnold, J Taylor, J Williams. Booked: Angol, Bouzanis

Bradford: S Walker, B Halliday, L Ridehalgh, C Kelly, M Platt (sub K MacDonald 71), S Stubbs, C Oduor, C Kavanagh(sub T Wright 71) A Cook, J Tomkinson, A Gilliead. Subs n/u C Doyle, T Smith, B Pointon, A Wilson, N Wadsworth. Booked: Tomkinson.

Referee: Marc Edwards

Attendance: 16,697(87 away)