The game in full

He had a clear run on goal, but his shot with his weaker right foot was parried by Banks for a corner.

The visitors responded instantly, Warnock escaping down the left to deliver a dangerous low cross which Kuipers gathered well in difficult conditions for goalkeepers.

The lively start continued as Zamora got away with a trip on Bower which was not spotted by referee Curson.

Zamora rather wasted the opening with a cross, meant for Barrett, which drifted out of play for a goal kick.

Albion have conceded eight penalties this season, but they were awarded one of their own in the ninth minute.

Zamora's back header close to the touchline sent Brooker racing into the box. He was brought down by Uhlenbeek and the Dutch defender was booked before Zamora calmly scored from the spot.

At Palace Brooker received a red card for a foul inside the area on hat-trick hero Andrew Johnson which led to a penalty.

Brooker's contribution this time enabled Zamora to stroke in his third goal of an injury interrupted season and first in four games.

Albion, accustomed to letting in early goals, were lifted by scoring one of their own.

They almost doubled their advantage in the 11th minute when the diving Banks failed to hold a 25 yard free-kick from Watson which skimmed off the slippery surface.

Barrett, latching on to the loose ball, saw his effort from the acutist of angles deflect off a defender and against the post.

The Seagulls should have been awarded a corner, but referee Curson gave a goal kick.

Gray shot straight at Kuipers from outside the area before the ubiquitous Zamora had an opportunity to put Albion further in front.

He could not keep down a header from the edge of the six yard box from a pinpoint cross by Brooker.

Encouragingly for Albion they were creating plenty of openings and Zamora might well have helped himself to an early hat-trick.

They were showing a bit more composure in possession, although Bradford were also looking quite sharp going forward themselves.

A right wing cross from Gray was inadvertently diverted back to Kuipers by the stretching Blackwell.

At the other end a centre from Rodger was headed square for Barrett, who miss-kicked on the edge of the area.

Another defensive lapse of the kind which has proved so expensive for the Seagulls this season nearly gifted Bradford a 25th minute equaliser.

Jacobs played a low ball into Cadamarteri. Cullip, stepping up, tried to catch the former Everton forward offside, but there was no flag.

Fortunately for Albion Cadamarteri's shot deflected for a corner.

Watson was looking much more like his old self and whipped in another pinpoint free-kick, but the on loan keeper from Bolton managed to hold on. Brooker, Watson and Hart, who shook off a knock on an ankle, were driving Albion forwards in search of a second goal.

Brooker, surrounded by opponents, used his skill to find space for a cross which was struck with too much pace for Barrett to direct an instinctive header on target.

Barrett, who was also a target for Bradford when he joined Albion on loan from Arsenal in August, was once again demonstrating tremendous industry.

He was occasionally dropping deeper, just in behind Zamora, and they were linking up well together.

Warnock headed straight at Kuipers at the far post from a cross by Reid before Rodger increased Albion's advantage on 42 minutes with the classiest of strikes.

Zamora, outnumbered, still managed to slide the ball into Rodger's path in a central position 20 yards out.

The newcomer found the top corner with the sweetest of left-foot strikes which gave the diving Banks no chance.

Half-Time: Albion 2 Bradford 0.

Albion squandered a 2-0 lead at half time against Sheffield United, so a much needed result could not be taken for granted, but Rodger's wonderful effort put them firmly in the driving seat.

Rodger is not renowned for his goalscoring. He found the net just 11 times in 276 League appearances for Palace and only once last season, at Portsmouth in September.

The Seagulls were guilty of giving away too many free-kicks at the start of the second half and they were duly punished from one of them as Bradford halved their arrears in the 49th minute.

Evans' delivery from the right was met with a stooping header by Gray which flew past Kuipers.

Yet again Albion had presented the opposition with a goal with shoddy marking from a set piece.

Warnock collected Bradford's second caution of the contest straight after Gray's goal when he disputed an offside decision.

Just as the rain-soaked fans feared another dramatic comeback by Yorkshire rivals, Albion were awarded another penalty.

Barrett, fed by Brooker, was pushed over by Jacobs.

He had his name taken before Zamora sent Banks the wrong way from the spot to restore Albion's two-goal cushion after 54 minutes.

Barrett was the next to receive a yellow card for delaying a free-kick for the visitors ten yards inside their own territory.

Bradford midfielder Paul Reid, on target twice on his debut against Norwich last Saturday, tried to reduce the arrears again with a long range piledriver which Kuipers did well to push for a corner.

That proved to be the last action for the Australian as the visitors brought on the Spaniard Juanjo in a bid to find a way back into the game.

Rodger hobbled off with an ankle injury 14 minutes from time and the match ended in dramatic fashion with a red card for Kuipers.

The keeper was sent off for bringing down Warnock in the 90th minute.

Pettersen was brought on in place of Brooker, but he could not keep out Gray's resulting penalty.