DAVID Flitcroft beamed with pride following his side's penalty shoot out triumph at Bradford on Tuesday.

The Shakers set up a tie with Hull City in the fourth round of the FA Cup after knocking the Bantams out of the third round replay 4-2 on penalties after another goalless stalemate.

Bury played the majority of the game with 10 men after skipper Nathan Cameron was dismissed five minutes before half-time for picking up two bookings in three first-half minutes.

Substitutes Josh Morris and Steven Davies both hit the woodwork as the host's dominated the second half but the Shakers clung on.

Danny Pugh then hit the post for the visitors in extra time but they were under the cosh for the majority of the closing exchanges.

The game went to penalties where recent signing Ian Lawlor saved twice as his side ran out 4-2 winners.

And after the game Flitcroft admitted he sensed penalties were looming once a host of chances went begging.

“It was a performance full of character,” he said. “We had to sit deep, look to counter, and grab something. Once we got to the last half hour I felt I could sniff penalties.

“Pugh has hit the bar and it just felt it was going to penalties.

“They stood firm – character, resilience, everything you want from a football team and a football club.

“Nobody fancied us with 11 men but when our skipper got sent off Tom Soares took the armband and led from the font.

“The team were absolutely outstanding in every aspect of what they did.

“The running the midfield have had to get through, the midfield four. Leon Clarke to do 120 minutes, the running and the closing down and the unselfishness of his performance.

“Every single player deserves maximum credit for what was a fantastic night.

“I felt the fans were outstanding. It's a tough place to come and they have fantastic fans here.

"Our fans were buoyant, they were singing and stayed with us the whole game.

“I'm absolutely proud to be the Bury manager because I used the whole squad and I had to to compete, they filled me with pride.”

The original fixture could have been settled at Gigg Lane had Bradford not missed an array of opportunities, and the hosts started the night in similar fashion with Christopher Routis shooting straight at Lawlor following Luke James' glancing header from a Tony McMahon corner in the 12th minute.

A minute later, Devante Cole, son of former Manchester United striker Andy Cole, wasted a great chance to open the scoring when played through on goal by James but he slipped when attempting to pull the trigger.

Both sides were throwing long-balls forwards towards their target men with little avail.

In the 37th minute, Bury captain Cameron was booked for a foul on James down the left flank.

And three minutes later the skipper misjudged a bouncing ball and raised his hand to stop it going over his head.

The 24-year-old centre-back was shown his second yellow, which gave his side an even greater challenge against a team unbeaten in their previous 10 home FA Cup ties.

Substitute Morris came a lick of paint away from giving the Bantams the lead in the 72nd minute but his shot from point-blank range cannoned back off the post.

Bradford cranked up the pressure as the clock ticked towards 90 and could have secured their place in the next round had Steven Davies' header three minutes into time added on not crashed back off the crossbar.

Pugh had a chance to win the game 11 minutes before the end but his volley from Hussey's cross came back off the post.

And Lawlor ensured the game went to penalties with two top-class saves at the death to deny Billy Clarke from close range before tipping James Meredith's effort on to the post when it looked destined for the bottom corner.

The Manchester City loanee kept out Davies and Cole's spot kicks to allow Jacob Mellis to step up and tuck away the winning penalty.

Following the win, Flitcroft was not too disappointed with Cameron's actions, instead pointing out that mistakes like that were part of the young defender's learning curve.

“I said at half time 'you're a young player, you're getting better'. He is someone that we are developing at the football club and he is developing by playing games,” the manager said.

“He is a player that I have got high hopes for and I said to him at half-time 'what doesn't kill you makes you stronger'.

“Cam will grow and get better and develop. Football is not easy.

"You get kicked and you get back up. Every single top player has had some bad times.

"You never go through your career without having some bad times.

“The lads dug in for Nathan and got Nathan an opportunity to play in the next round.”

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Match ratings

BURY (4-4-2): Lawlor 8; Soares 7, Cameron 4, Brown 8, Hussey 7; Tutte 7, Pugh 7, Etuhu 7 (Mellis 120, 6), Mayor 7 (Lowe 116, 6), Pope 7 (P Clarke 41, 8), L Clarke 7.

Not used: Riley, Sedgwick, Burgess, Miller.

BRADFORD CITY: (4-4-2): Williams; Darby, McArdle, N Clarke, Meredith; McMahon, Routis (B Clarke 66), Evans, Marshall (Davies 85); James (Morris 66), Cole.

Not used: Cracknell, Knott, Reid, Leigh.

Goals: Bradford 0 Bury 0.

Penalties: Bradford 2 – Tony McMahon, Steve Davies (saved), Lee Evans, Devante Cole (saved). Bury 4 – Andrew Tutte, Ryan Lowe, Leon Clarke, Jacob Mellis.

Yellow cards: Bury – Cameron (37, 40), Mayor (61), Hussey (90+2), Lawlor (107).

Red cards: Bury – Cameron (40).

Referee: Geoff Eltringham (County Durham).

Attendance: 6,227 (694 visiting).

STAR MAN: Ian Lawlor – The shot-stopper made a number of crucial saves to keep his side in the game. Lawlor kept the defence organised in the absence of Nathan Cameron and thoroughly deserved his second clean sheet in three games. The 21-year-old also made two superb penalty saves in the shootout.