Oxford United avenged their 5-0 drubbing at Valley Parade as two late goals brought them a terrific victory over Peter Taylor’s Bradford.

They trailed to a ninth-minute goal but Steve Maclean equalised on 77 minutes, forcing the ball in after James Constable’s shot came off the keeper’s legs.

And on 83 minutes, after Constable drove the ball across the goal from the right, Maclean missed it, but Tom Craddock forced it over the line by the far post, the ball going in off the side of his head.

It was a fantastic fightback by the U’s, who played really well throughout, producing relentless pressure with calm, controlled football.

Oxford were unchanged from the starting line-up at Aldershot, so James Constable was on the bench, and so too were new defender Jimmy Sangare, and Sam Deering.

It was a windy afternoon and dozens of yellow balloons kept swirling around the ground in the early stages of the game.

Asa Hall tried his luck with a 25-yd drive, which goalkeeper Lenny Pidgeley saved with some difficulty, the ball bouncing off his chest before he then safely gathered.

But in the ninth minute, the U’s fell behind at Bradford’s first corner.

Richard Eckersley headed Robbie Threlfall’s flag kick down, and David Syers hooked it in from close range for his seventh goal of the season.

Within a minute, there was an opportunity for the home side to equalise as Jack Midson met Damian Batt’s right-wing cross with a firm header seven yards out, but it went straight at Pidgeley.

Despite the setback of conceding an early goal, the U’s continued to knock the ball around neatly and play with confidence.

But a couple of times their strikers were caught offside in promising attacks.

And when Anthony Tonkin curled in a super left-wing cross, there was no-one attacking the near post.

A fine through pass from Hall released Midson on the left of the box, and when he then quickly turned the ball across the goal, neither Tom Craddock, nor Damian Batt, could reach it to turn it in.

Just before the break, Craddock almost reached Maclean’s pass ahead of the keeper, but Pidgeley made a smothering save. Hall then drove the loose ball across the goal, his effort deflecting wide.

The second half continued in much the same vein, with United moving the ball well but just needing an end product.

Bradford were finding joy on the break at times, and Omar Daley just beat the offside trap for a burst towards goal but couldn’t beat keeper Ryan Clarke, who made a fine save.

Pidgeley saved from Craddock and then Tonkin in quick succession.

United made a double substitution just before the hour, sending on their leading scorer, James Constable, and ex-Barnsley midfielder Simon Heslop.

And within seconds of his arrival on the pitch, Constable forced Pidgeley to save at his near post.

The City keeper was being kept busy, and after an effort from Craddock deflected off defender Rob Kiernan, he kept out a left-foot volley from Constable.

There was a let-off for Bradford when they allowed Constable a free header at a corner, but the striker directed it wide.

But the U's got their reward in the last 13 minutes, and this win now makes is six wins from the last seven games as they continue to climb the table.

Oxford Utd: Clarke, Batt, Worley, Wright, Tonkin, Hall (Heslop 59), McLaren, Clist, Maclean, Midson (Constable 59), Craddock (Sangare 90). Subs not used: Deering, Eastwood, Green, Payne.

Att: 7,068.