Bradford City 3 Carlisle United 1: Carlisle United had Jack Bridge sent off as they saw a lead overturned at Bradford, who also ended with 10 men.

Midfielder Bridge was dismissed in the first half for a second yellow card.

That came as Bradford fought back from Olufela Olomola's early Carlisle opener.

The hosts levelled through Harry Pritchard and then, after Bridge's dismissal, Kelvin Mellor headed them in front.

The Bantams had a goal disallowed after the break while their former United youth defender Ben Richards-Everton was shown a straight red card after a poor challenge on Jack Iredale.

Carlisle, though, could not find a way back and sub Zeli Ismail smashed a last-gasp third to wrap things up for the hosts.

The Cumbrians are now 18th in the League Two table after the defeat in front of 828 travelling fans in a 14,217 crowd.

Left-back Iredale and Harry McKirdy had been involved in attacks shortly before unchanged Carlisle's 14th-minute opener.

Olomola beat keeper Richard O'Donnell with a pinpoint low finish from the left after good work from Iredale.

United then applied further pressure with McKirdy and Mo Sagaf trying their luck.

But a spell of Bantams pressure then saw chances for Pritchard and James Vaughan before the 30th-minute leveller.

It came after United failed to deal with a ball into their box and Pritchard got away from Byron Webster and Gethin Jones to drill across Adam Collin.

Bridge, booked in the 11th minute for pulling back his man, was then punished for a similar offence on Pritchard in front of the travelling fans on 34 minutes by ref John Busby.

Boss Steven Pressley brought on a defender for a forward with Christie Elliott replacing McKirdy as Carlisle tried to readjust to the red card.

But a nightmare spell then got worse when a far-post free-kick was forced in by Mellor as the Bantams man got away from Elliott.

Bradford then thought they had added a third after the break when Connor Wood's cross was attacked by James Vaughan, Collin saving but Clayton Donaldson forcing the rebound home.

It was disallowed, though, for handball.

Vaughan again was denied by Collin with Donaldson hooking the rebound against the bar, with Callum Cooke going close with further attempts as the hosts remained on top.

United were then given an opportunity to get back into the game when Bradford were also reduced to 10 men, Richards-Everton given his marching orders for a poor challenge on Iredale.

A glancing Webster header drew a save from O'Donnell before Cooke and Connolly had more Bradford chances.

Gethin Jones forced a save from the home keeper with Nathan Thomas also going close for the Cumbrians.

But United, including subs Hallam Hope and Elias Sorensen, couldn't grab a leveller.

The hosts then broke deep into injury time with Donaldson leading a counter-attack which Ismail finished with a firm shot high into the net.

Bradford: O'Donnell, Mellor, Wood, Richards-Everton, P O'Connor, Pritchard (Oteh 82), Connolly (Ismail 78) Palmer, Cooke, Donaldson, Vaughan (A O'Connor 71). Not used: Hornby, McCartan, Henley, Devine. 

United: Collin, G Jones, Iredale (Hope 73), Webster, Knight-Percival, Sagaf (Sorensen 82), M Jones, Bridge, McKirdy (Elliott 37), Thomas, Olomola. Not used: Gray, Mellish, Loft, Branthwaite.

Ref: John Busby

Crowd: 14,217 (828 Carlisle fans)