The conditions at Valley Parade promised to make life tricky for defenders and forwards alike.

Albion keeper Ben Roberts was forced to wear tracksuit bottoms with the penalty box defended by Brighton in the first half still affected by frost.

Brooker launched a promising early raid by evading Atherton's tackle through the middle before releasing the supporting Mayo inside the area.

The left wingback's first touch forced him wide and his cross-shot was comfortably held by keeper Davison.

Blackwell, fresh from his first goal for more than 11 years against Wolves, conceded the first corner when he put Uhlenbeek's deflected cross out of danger.

Standing and Jorgensen worked a short corner routine before the Dane crossed dangerously across the face of the six yard box.

Ward met it with a header which had goal written all over it only for Roberts, plunging to his right to somehow keep it out.

Ward, hands on top of his head must have wondered how he had not managed to add to his first goal since August at Wimbledon.

The Seagulls responded to their Roberts-inspired escape with a low drive from long range by Carpenter straight at Davison.

Bradford's topscorer Gray, called up to the Scotland squad for the friendly against Turkey later this month, was freed through the inside right channel by sweeping passes from both Standing and Francis.

The covering Blackwell used all his experience to obliterate the threat at the expense of a corner, from which Ward headed straight at Roberts.

Bradford were looking the more dangerous side at this stage, although Albion were lively on the break with Brooker again finding plenty of room in his free role.

Albion, with Ingimarsson making a composed opening, were performing with a confidence belying their League position, but it was Bradford who threatened once more via a 4-man move midway through the half.

Uhlenbeek's pass was headed on by Gray to Ward.

He held play up on the edge of the area to set up Francis for a low drive which he dragged wide of Roberts' right hand post.

The Seagulls seized the initiative in controversial circumstances with Zamora's third goal in as many games on 27 minutes.

It started from midfield with Carpenter threading a pass through to Hart.

He beat his man down the right before crossing deep beyond the far post where Zamora headed downwards towards goal.

Keeper Davison appeared to block the ball away, but the linesman signalled it had crossed the line and referee Graham Salisbury awarded the goal.

Uhlenbeek and some of his Bradford colleagues approached the linesman to protest, but they were waved away by Salisbury.

The home fans suddenly came to life and Jorgensen was not pleased when he was lectured for a challenge on Hart close to halfway. He felt Hart had made a meal of it.

Albion almost pounced on Bradford's growing uncertainty as Blackwell's header found Zamora with freedom inside the box. His angled right foot drive deflected inches wide of the far post.

Standing's cross-shot was held by Roberts at his near post, then Carpenter drove at Davison from 30 yards at the other end as the exchanges became more purposeful.

Albion's vibrancy on the counter-attack was giving Bradford plenty to think about, but Roberts was called upon to preserve the lead five minutes from the break when he tipped over Uhlenbeek's rasping 20 yarder.

One of several encouraging sorties by the Seagulls ended in unfortunate fashion when Carpenter's shot from just outside the area deflected over the bar off team mate Hart.

Zamora came close to doubling the advantage approaching the interval. He cut inside Atherton on to his right foot before firing narrowly wide of the far post from 12 yards.

Half-Time: Bradford 0 Albion 1.

Zamora's move into double figures for the season was a further indication that Albion's luck could be turning at last.

His goal against Wolves was also given by a linesman ruling the ball had narrowly crossed the line.

Albion had certainly been the better side in the period between going ahead and half time and there was more good news awaiting them in the dressing room, with fourth-bottom Grimsby 3-0 down at Gillingham.

Bradford's attempt to assert at the start of the second half was not helped by Ward's cross from the right sailing harmlessly over the bar.

Albion were caught off side several times in the early stages of the restart as Bradford tried to compress the play.

The home side were offering little upfront at this stage of the match, Cullip, Blackwell and Ingimarsson forming a formidable barrier.

Bower collected the first caution of the game for a late challenge on Zamora midway inside the Bantams' half.

Referee Salisbury allowed an Albion attack to continue before showing the Bradford centre half the yellow card.

Bradford's exasperation at the way events were unfolding was emphasised by a booking for Ward for dissent.

Moments later Jorgensen, bidding for a club record equalling seventh goal in as many League games, volleyed high and wide of the target.

Albion continued to look dangerous on the break, Davison holding Brooker's angled effort on the run from Hart's pass at his near post.

Very little had been seen of Gray until he clipped a shot wide on the turn from Uhlenbeek's pass into feet.

A fierce shot from Francis from a tight angle bounced off the top of the bar, one of the rare occasions that Albion were in jeopardy of relinquishing their lead.

Bradford made a substitution, Forrest replacing the labouring Cadamarteri.

The home side began to show a bit more conviction as Jorgensen crossed just over the head of Ward.

Ward's header from Jacobs left wing centre moments later was cleared by Cullip.

The Seagulls also made a change in the closing stages, Barrett coming on for Brooker.