ROB Taylor fired home the winner to breathe new life into Vale's play-off campaign – and end their home hoodoo against Bradford City.

Vale's 2-1 victory was their first home win against the Bantams since December 1989 – a run of 10 matches.

But they earned this one the hard way after Robbie Threlfall handed Bradford the lead with an early free-kick.

Marc Richards hit his 16th goal of the campaign just after the break to level, before Taylor's deflected long-range strike sealed the points to leave Vale six points off the play-off zone.

Micky Adams made four changes to the starting line-up which lost 3-1 to Northampton on Saturday, with Tommy Fraser, Rob Taylor, Craig Davies and John McCombe recalled at the expense of Doug Loft, Louis Dodds, Sean Rigg and Kris Taylor.

Vale started brightly as Lewis Haldane's storming right-flank run in the opening seconds earned his side a free-kick, but Fraser was unable to find a team-mate with his set-piece.

Haldane was back in the action when Richards failed to properly connect with his fourth-minute centre.

And Richards had little excuse for his next miss after being found by McCombe's precise long delivery.

Enjoying the freedom of Bradford's penalty box, the 27-year-old's tentative volley, from 10 yards, dropped the wrong side of the post.

Vale shaded the opening stages as Bradford struggled to find their attacking rhythm.

But after forcing two corners the visitors took a 12th-minute lead.

The goal was effectively created by Bantams midfielder Luke O'Brien, whose burst through the centre was ended by Anthony Griffith's foul.

Threlfall scored only his second senior goal by guiding a stunning 25-yard free-kick into the top corner.

Vale struggled to muster an instant response as Bradford midfielder Michael Flynn blazed over from long range in the 18th minute.

The game opened up and Richards was left to look at the sky in disbelief again a minute later.

Rob Taylor powered a low cross flew across goal, but Richards could only fire his shot at Bantams keeper Matt Glennon.

Haldane drifted inside, in the 22th minute, although his bold run ended with him missing the target with a 20-yarder.

On 25 minutes Richards had yet another chance to level, but he volleyed Adam Yates's cross wide.

Bradford looked comfortable in possession and mounted an attack down the right in the 27th minute.

Gareth Evans's cross was met by Flynn, whose eight-yard header flew into Joe Anyon's clutches.

Vale continued to pose a threat in the final third, but, at times, they still looked vulnerable at the back.

Just after the half-hour mark Bradford's dangerous forward James Hanson was afforded far too much time on the right-hand side of Vale's box. Fortunately for the hosts, his cross flew harmlessly to safety.

A quiet five-minute period ended when Griffith burst into life by firing a 25-yard strike wide on 37 minutes, before having another effort, from distance, blocked three minutes later.

Rob Taylor then connected with a long diagonal ball in the left-hand channel where he directed a volley into Glennon's arms.

Lukewarm applause greeted the half-time whistle as Vale's home supporters at least appreciated their side's high level of commitment – if not the scoreline.

Adams was forced to shuffle his defensive pack at the interval, with Yates suffering a groin strain and being replaced by Kris Taylor.

The move meant Collins was forced to switch to right-back.

After grabbing the initiative at the start of the second period, Vale levelled on 51 minutes when a persistent Richards finally found the net thanks to Rob Taylor's work down the left.

The flying winger drove forward before his defence-splitting cross was converted by Richards at the far post.

Vale could sniff blood and went in search of the crucial second goal.

On the hour-mark Hanson pulled the trigger from 20 yards, only for McCombe to execute a superb block tackle, before Haldane cleared the bar with a wild 35-yard volley.

Panic ensued in Bradford's box when McCombe flicked on Fraser's 67th-minute corner, before the visitors hacked the ball to safety.

Rob Taylor stretched his legs again in the 74th minute when his meandering run, cutting inside from the left, ended with him ballooning the ball over from 14 yards.

But Taylor had the last laugh in the 79th minute when the ball dropped to him 25 yards from goal and he looped a half-volley over Glennon and into the net to hand Vale three vital points.