Kevin Phillips finally rediscovered his goalscoring touch via a sublime second-half hat-trick as Sunderland pressed home their challenge for Champions League football next season.

Such was Sunderland and Phillips' superiority, the England international even had a 90th minute penalty saved. Peter Reid and his troops only had Niall Quinn's fifth goal of the season to show for their superiority in the first half. But after the break the impressive Don Hutchison set up Phillips' first two goals.

First, a 30-yard angled ball played him in and one look and one stunning drive back across the diving Walsh made it 2-0 on 48 minutes.

Seven minutes later, a 40-yard pass with the outside of Hutchison's right foot sent Phillips scampering away to slot home his ninth of the season.

City pulled one back in the 75th minute as a Peter Beagrie corner was nodded down by Stuart McCall for substitute Robbie Blake to turn and stab home. Phillips then drove home his hat-trick strike from 22 yards in the 86th minute.

Bradford: Walsh, Atherton (Nolan 67), Molenaar, O'Brien, Jacobs, Lawrence (Blake 55), McCall, McKinlay, Beagrie, Windass, Carbone (Ward 56). Subs Not Used: Davison, Petrescu. Booked: Beagrie, Atherton. Goal: Blake 75.

Sunderland: Sorensen, Makin, Thome, Craddock, Gray, McCann (Schwarz 75), Hutchison, Rae, Arca, Quinn (Dichio 68), Phillips. Subs Not Used: Macho, Varga, Williams. Goals: Quinn 45, Phillips 48, 55, 85.

Referee: P Durkin (Dorset).