Bradford City kept their hopes of first division survival alive with an incident-packed victory over play-off hopefuls Reading.
City striker Michael Branch and Royals centre-half Ivar Ingimarsson both got their marching orders and referee Keith Hill had to run the gauntlet of angry Reading players at the end.
Bradford skipper David Wetherall picked the perfect time to claim his first goal of the season, but after Reading hit back through David Kitson's stunning volley, substitute Lewis Emanuel headed City's winner during a controversial six-minute spell.
Bradford boss Bryan Robson had demanded pride from his players despite their seemingly hopeless position and his side rattled Reading from the off.
After ten minutes, Ingimarsson did well to block a snap-shot from Branch, but their defence was all at sea a minute later.
Winger John Salako did well to block Nicky Summerbee's right-wing cross, but when the City man drilled over the resulting corner Wetherall was left unmarked at the back post to power in a header from eight yards.
Reading keeper Jamie Ashdown escaped after flapping at another Summerbee cross soon after and experienced Bradford midfielder Peter Atherton saw an 18-yard volley deflected over the bar.
Reading striker Dean Morgan then stretched the Bradford defence and when Salako whipped in a first-time cross from the left Kitson hit the target with a spectacular 14-yard left-foot volley.
City, who need to win all their remaining games, got their noses in front again after 52 minutes when the Royals gave away possession and Summerbee picked out Emanuel racing in at the far post to head home from four yards.
Four minutes later, Branch went sprawling in the box, but with the home fans demanding a penalty, referee Hill showed the City man a second yellow for diving and ordered him off.
With tempers at boiling point, Bradford frontman Dean Windass went down following an off-the-ball incident involving Ingimarsson and after consulting his assistant, Mr Hill brandished his second red card of the game.
In a frantic finale, Reading's Nicky Forster saw a goalbound shot booted off the line by Jason Gavin and Windass clipped the bar with a fierce drive.