Boss Graham Alexander batted away talk of a last-gasp League Two play-off push despite seeing 10-man Bradford come from behind to win 3-2 at Walsall.
A fourth victory in five games lifted Bradford to 10th and if they win their game in hand at Barrow in midweek they have a chance of sneaking into the top seven on the final day.
Those hopes looked dead in the water when Walsall stormed into a 2-0 lead after 16 minutes as Ryan Stirk finished coolly and Mo Faal punished a mix-up between goalkeeper Sam Walker and Dan Oyegoke.
But Walsall old boy Andy Cook pulled one back and set up two for Jamie Walker to complete the turnaround.
Walker was later sent off but Bradford survived a late onslaught, with Tom Knowles denied by the woodwork.
“We’re hanging around – we just have to go to Barrow and play like we did for the last 70 minutes here,” Alexander said.
“What will be, will be – I just want us to keep this run going for our own contentment, for the supporters to believe in us again.
“I’m not looking further ahead than that – we’ve parked the play-offs maybe five games ago.
“We just wanted to show we had character and personality to win games – I don’t see why we have to change that outlook now.
“I thought we showed that in abundance, not only scoring three goals but going down to 10 men for such a long period against a team that puts you under pressure.
“We got a bit of luck but fortune favours the brave and we were extremely brave. We were under the cosh for the last 20 minutes but the players stood up to it.”
Walsall, meanwhile, are two points off seventh having played a game more than Bradford and could be eliminated from contention if midweek results go against them.
Boss Mat Sadler said: “It was tough to take because I thought for large spells, especially in the first half, we played some fantastic stuff.
“My chairman just said to me that if we play that game another 10 times we win it nine and it felt like one of those days.
“We need a bit of luck on Tuesday, we need a few results to go our way – stranger things have happened and it would be nice to be fighting to the last game.
“If we win today we would have put ourselves in a great position so it is still definitely raw but my overriding feeling is pride with who we are and what we are building here.
“It wasn’t to be, not for the want of trying, but we have to dust ourselves off and make sure we are ready for Saturday and what could be because who knows?”
Al-Ittihad 0-5 Al-Ettifaq: Ekambi scores hat-trick in five-star display
Karl Toko Ekambi netted a hat-trick as Al-Ettifaq got back to winning ways in style with a 5-0 thrashing of Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League on Friday.
He scored twice in four minutes at the end of the first half to send the visitors into the break 4-0 up before getting his third just 10 minutes after the break.
Seko Fofana had already given Steven Gerrard’s side the lead five minutes into the contest, while Moussa Dembele doubled their advantage from the penalty spot.
Al-Ittihad had the chances, but they could not find the back of the net, as they stayed fifth, but are now just six points above Al-Ettifaq.
Data Debrief: Clinical finishers
Al-Ettifaq had five shots on target against Al-Ittihad, scoring with all of them while creating an xG of 3.62.
With his hat-trick against Al-Ittihad, Ekambi has now scored 11 goals for the season, netting more than once for the first time since joining the club.
Al-Akhdoud 2-3 Al-Nassr: Brozovic stunner delays Al-Hilal coronation
Marcelo Brozovic scored twice – including a fine half-volley in second-half stoppage time – as Al-Nassr beat Al-Akhdoud 3-2 to delay Al-Hilal's Saudi Pro League title coronation on Thursday.
Former Inter midfielder Brozovic fired in a seventh-minute opener from outside the area before Cristiano Ronaldo tapped into an empty net to double the visitors' lead.
Sadio Mane struck the woodwork early in the second half and Al-Nassr relinquished control of the game from there, with goals from Hassan Al Habib and Saviour Godwin making it 2-2.
However, Brozovic blasted a bouncing ball home following a goalmouth scramble in the first of seven minutes of stoppage time to hand Al-Nassr a fifth straight win and keep them within nine points of Al-Hilal, with three games still to play.
They have only delayed the inevitable though as the leaders – who have only dropped four points all season – need just one more point to secure their crown ahead of facing Al-Hazm on Saturday.
Data Debrief: Brozovic upstages Ronaldo
While it's usually Ronaldo writing the headlines for Al-Nassr, he was upstaged by Brozovic on Thursday as the Croatian found the net with both of his shots, also leading all players on the pitch for final-third passes (19) and completing 90.1 per cent of his passes overall (81/95).
Al Ahli 1-2 Al Hilal: Malcom saves league leaders' winning streak
Malcom’s stunning solo goal finished Al Hilal’s second-half comeback to earn a 2-1 win over Al Ahli in the Saudi Pro League on Monday.
The forward started his run from inside his own half before slotting in the winner, after teeing up Aleksandr Mitrovic for the equaliser just after the interval.
Feras Al Brikan had given Al Ahli the lead in the 30th minute, but the hosts could not hold onto it against the league leaders.
Al Hilal continue their unbeaten league campaign to a 30th match, moving 12 points clear at the top of the table, while Al Ahli remain in third, now 22 points off the AFC Champions League spot.
Data Debrief
Malcom was one of Al Hilal's most influential players; as well as playing a hand in both goals, he had the joint-most shots (five), and the joint-most shots on target (two), and created two chances for his team.
Al Ahli also struggled to cope with Mitrovic's threat, as the Serbian created an xG of 0.61 from his five shots, having 11 touches in the opposition box.
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