Bradford manager Graham Alexander admits his side were made to work hard to beat rock-bottom Sutton but felt they fully deserved the three points.
Calum Kavanagh’s second-half strike proved enough for League Two play-off hopefuls Braford to claim a third successive win in testing conditions at Valley Parade.
Alexander said: “It was a difficult match against a difficult opponent. We’ve seen that from a couple of their previous results.
“Wrexham were made to work exceptionally hard to win against them during the week and we’ve had to do the same again today.
“We deserved to win 100 per cent. We had the better opportunities and should have scored in the first half and we defended the pressure they put on extremely well.”
Bradford’s clean sheet was their fifth in a row in all competitions as they prepare for their Bristol Street Motors Trophy semi-final against Wycombe in midweek.
Alexander added: “We’ve got to give ourselves a base where we’re not chasing. That’s what we’ve been guilty of, certainly at Valley Parade.
“We’ve gone all at it right from minute one and the opposition has got a goal early, piling more pressure on us and making it even more difficult for us to get going as an attacking force.
“Having a bit more control over ourselves in the first 15-20 minutes has helped us settle into a game and not given the opposition anything to build from.
“We know we have players that have those quality moments to score.”
Andy Cook had missed two good chances for Bradford before Kavanagh’s confident finish broke the deadlock in the 54th minute after being played clear by Clarke Oduor.
Bradford keeper Sam Walker played his part in the win with saves from Harry Smith and substitute Olly Sanderson, leaving Sutton manager Steve Morison still looking for his first win after nine games in charge.
Morison said: “I’m really frustrated. I thought our attitude and application were spot on but they put the ball in the back of the net and we didn’t.
“We played some good stuff, created some good chances but the keeper has made a couple of good saves. That was the difference.
“The only plus point we take out of it was that Grimsby lost 5-1 and nothing’s really changed. We’re still trying to catch them and that’s what we’re focused on.
“We tried to get the win but it wasn’t meant to be. We did everything we could, we worked hard, prepared as best we could but they got the moment on the counter and took it.
“The first half was pretty even and then we conceded the goal off the back of us having one cleared off the line.
“We should have been leading but we were losing. The players are still scrapping and fighting for the football club and each other.”
'We have a wonderful future' - De la Fuente delighted by Spain's youngsters
Luis de la Fuente has praised Spain's youngsters after they starred in the dramatic late win over Switzerland in the Nations League on Monday.
Bryan Zaragoza sealed the 3-2 victory with a stoppage-time penalty after the visitors had twice come from behind to level after Yeremy Pino and Bryan Gil's goals in Tenerife.
Spain dominated throughout the match, having 21 shots, 10 of which were on target, as they created 3.21 expected goals (xG) and rounded off an unbeaten group stage.
Excluding friendlies, the European champions are unbeaten in their 13 matches in 2024 in all competitions (W12 D1), setting the record for their most competitive matches without defeat in a single year, as well as their most wins.
La Roja will be one of the seeded teams in the Nations League quarter-finals in March after topping Group A4, and De la Fuente was particularly proud of how the next generation of players have performed in 2024.
"We are very happy. It is football like that, and we know the high level and equality that exists. We must value so many victories and, above all, the victory over a great team like Switzerland," De la Fuente said.
"Before, it was also a great team. The difference is that now we win, and we win everything. We are used to competing for the best and having great results. Without thinking about the past.
"I don't worry about it. I have always said that we have a magnificent present and a wonderful future, thanks to the great footballers that there are in Spain. They are the best in the world.
"They are very good. They are the best players. We know what they give, and we have to make them feel comfortable to show their football. The message gets through quickly, and we are privileged to have these players."
Historic win gives San Marino 'deserved' Nations League promotion, says Cevoli
San Marino head coach Roberto Cevoli says the team "deserve what they've managed to achieve" after they made history with their Nations League promotion.
San Marino, the world's bottom-ranked team, won their first away match in history as they beat Liechtenstein 3-1 in their final Nations League match on Monday.
It was just the third win in their history, with all of those victories coming against Liechtenstein, with their previous triumphs – a friendly in 2004 and a Nations League game in September – both 1-0 at home.
Aron Sele had given Liechtenstein the lead five minutes before half-time, but second-half goals from Lorenzo Lazzari, Nicola Nanni and Alessandro Golinucci secured the famous victory for the visitors.
"Finishing that first half 1-0 down was an insult to football, but the boys were brilliant and deserved what they've managed to achieve," said Cevoli.
Marco Tura, the president of San Marino's Football Federation, added: "These boys made history tonight.
"As people, as athletes, as men, they have shown what they are worth. I cried with the boys."
It is the first time San Marino scored more than once in a competitive game, while they had never scored three goals in any match before in their history.
The victory means they have gained promotion to Nations League C, after topping Group D1 with seven points.
Doncic backs Mbappe to turn fortunes around at Real Madrid
NBA superstar Luka Doncic has backed Kylian Mbappe to "figure it out" after his underwhelming start to life at Real Madrid.
Mbappe has scored eight goals in 16 games for Madrid in all competitions since joining as a free agent following the expiration of his Paris Saint-Germain contract.
He has gone four matches without a goal – a run that includes losses to Barcelona and Milan – and has been left out of France's latest squad.
However, Dallas Mavericks guard Doncic – a Real Madrid supporter due to his previous ties with the sports club – can see Mbappe turning things around.
"Obviously [their season] could be better," Doncic told Managing Madrid after the Mavericks' win over the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.
"But when you get a guy like Mbappe, it takes some time to get used to it. We'll figure it out."
Mbappe has scored six goals in 11 LaLiga appearances for Madrid but has underperformed his season's expected goals (xG) total by 2.04.
The forward is averaging a goal every 166 minutes in all competitions this term, compared to one every 88 minutes for PSG in his last of seven seasons in Paris.
Madrid thrashed Osasuna 4-0 last time out in the league to return to winning ways but still trail leaders Barcelona by six points.
Asked about his connections with Madrid, former Los Blancos basketball player Doncic said: "I follow Real Madrid every time.
"I grew up there. They taught me everything, so it's a part of my life. You can call it a secondary home.
"I learned a lot of stuff there and, especially, they gave me a way to be here right now [in Dallas]. I always appreciate that 100%."
Madrid return to action after the international break with a trip to Leganes on Sunday.
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