Ben Roberts completed his month on loan from Charlton with a wonder save as Albion chalked up consecutive victories for the first time in ten months.

Goals win games but so can goalkeepers. That was certainly the case at Valley Parade on Saturday.

Roberts had little to do, such was the formidable barrier formed in front of him by Danny Cullip, Dean Blackwell and ice-cool debutant Ivar Ingimarsson.

He was, however, instrumental in a precious success which secured the Seagulls' only double of the season and lifted them to the giddy heights of third-bottom, an element of breathing space they have not enjoyed since the season was in its infancy.

With only nine minutes gone, Ashley Ward rose to meet Claus Jorgensen's cross on the edge of the six-yard box.

His header had goal written all over it but Roberts somehow kept it out.

Boss Steve Coppell acknowledged: "The victory was probably created by the fabulous save Ben made.

"As soon as Ward went up I was turning my back because I thought it was going in the back of the net. It was a tremendous save."

Roberts, modesty personified, said: "It was a bit lucky to be honest but it was nice to get three points.

"It would have been disappointing to go 1-0 down so early on. I was pleased with it but the boys were brilliant.

"They dug in and worked as a team. Six points from the last two games have made a massive difference. It's about momentum at this stage of the season."

Whether Roberts' away debut proves to be his farewell appearance for Albion remains to be seen. Coppell has a goalkeeping conundrum to resolve.

Roberts, signed as cover for the injured Michel Kuipers, was laid low by gastric flu so Coppell drafted in Dave Beasant for the rest of the season.

Beasant moved from Wigan because he wanted first team football. He won't get that all the while Roberts remains although, to muddy the waters further, he has now been hit by gastric flu as well.

Coppell said: "Sometimes you can't do what you want to do. It's a very complicated situation.

"I want to keep Ben but he got sick and then I signed Dave until the end of the season.

"I've got Michel coming back from injury, so after at one stage being bereft of goalkeepers. I might have an avalanche of them. I need to speak to all the interested parties."

Roberts said: "I've made it known to everyone I want to stay to help the relegation fight. I've thoroughly enjoyed my month.

"Results have gone well in the games I've played and they are a great set of lads.

"The thing I have noticed is the togetherness. I can't believe they went so long earlier in the season without picking up a point."

Bobby Zamora's 27th-minute match-winner, his third goal in as many games and third against Bradford this season, was tainted by controversy.

Bradford keeper Aidan Davison appeared to block Zamora's downward header from Gary Hart's deep cross but linesman David Foster signalled it had gone over the line.

TV replays apparently showed Foster's verdict was false but what the heck. It is about time Albion had the rub of the green.

They were not lucky winners in any case. They always looked dangerous going forward and were rock-solid at the back, although teenager Simon Francis struck the top of the bar for Bradford with a fierce drive from a tight angle 20 minutes from time.

Ban-inducing bookings for Zamora and Hart in the frantic dying stages, amid much scuffling and scuttling, marred an otherwise near-perfect day for the Seagulls.

Grimsby were beaten by the break at Gillingham, while Sheffield Wednesday were held at ten-man Derby after leading.

Hart's tangle with Jurgensen left him nursing stitches over his left eyebrow, not to mention the intense frustration of missing the next four matches.

It's a pity ref Joe Ross has refused to look again at his decision to send Hart off against Wimbledon for elbowing.

Brian Curzon did earlier in the season when Kuipers was harshly dismissed near the end of the 3-2 home victory over Bradford, reducing red to yellow.

It's also a shame Coppell changed his mind about a substitution.

He revealed: "With ten minutes to go I was going to bring Bobby off because I knew he was on that knife-edge. We just can't afford to lose players.

"I could see it was going to get hectic, then I decided to bring Bozzy (Paul Brooker) off. For Bobby to be booked hits the team."

Zamora, level-headed as ever, said: "I'm disappointed. I want to play every game I can.

"We are nowhere near clear yet. It's all about hard work and getting more points on the board."

Indeed it is but Albion have given themselves a platform for survival which seemed unlikely when Wimbledon beat them at Withdean less than a fortnight ago.

Albion (3-4-1-2): Roberts (gk) 8; Cullip (cd) 8, Blackwell (cd) 8, Ingimarsson (cd) 8; Watson (rwb) 7, Mayo (lwb) 7, Brooker (m) 7, Carpenter (m) 7, Rodger (m) 7; Hart (f) 8, Zamora (f) 8. Subs: Barrett for Brooker (withdrawn, 78), Butters, Oatway, Packham, Piercy.

Scorers: Zamora (27).

Bookings: Zamora (unsporting behaviour, 88), Hart (unsporting behaviour, 90).

Bradford (4-4-2): Davison; Bower, Jacobs, Atherton, Francis, Uhlenbeek, Jorggensen, Standing, Gray, Ward, Cadamarteri. Subs: Forrest for Cadamarteri (withdrawn, 74), Walsh, Fishlock, Lee, Ekoku.

Bookings: Bower (foul, 59), Ward (dissent, 63), Jorgensen (unsporting behaviour, 88), Standing (unspoirting behaviour, 92)

Half-Time: Bradford 0 Albion 1.

Attendance: 11,520.

Fan's View: Richard Gaffney (Hove).

Another solid performance and our first double of the saeason.

Whether or not the ball crossed the line, and from where I was I really couldn't tell, doesn't matter. It counted and it makes a change this season for the Albion to have the rub of the green two weeks running.

Is now the time for the Forty Note Fund to pay for another month of Ben Roberts or should any funds be used to bring in a striker to replace Gary Hart during his suspension?

I would suggest Paul Kitson but it's not Comic Relief yet.

Seriously, if there is no possibility of him attaining any level of fitness, Dock Knight should really think about seeking legal advice and taking steps to terminate his contract.

Whatever happens, Millwall arrive on Saturday and what chance of three wins on the spin?