HITMAN Hamilton Ricard last night delivered an FA Cup sucker punch to Bradford to stretch Middlesbrough's unbeaten run under Terry Venables to six matches.

Boro lined up a fourth-round tie at home to Wimbledon or Notts County after withstanding an early battering from the battling Bantams at Valley Parade.

Colombian Ricard, out of sorts for much of the match, ended a goal famine of more than three months when he curled home a superb right-foot shot from the edge of the penalty area in the 66th minute, to claim only his fourth of the season.

It was his first strike since a hat-trick haul in Boro's Worthington Cup win at Macclesfield in September, but cruel on Jim Jefferies' Bradford, who dominated a first half in which Dean Windass was a constant menace to the Teessiders' defence.

Boro, however, are a tough nut to crack these days, having now conceded only two goals in the half dozen games that head coach Venables has overseen.

Venables revealed he was ready to substitute Ricard just before he scored. "I thought Hamilton worked his socks off but had tired by the time the last 20 minutes came round,'' said Venables.

"In fact, I was about to sub him when he scored. It's just as well I decided he deserved another few minutes of punishment!

"It was a sensational goal and I'm very pleased with the result. I thought Bradford played very well in the first half and gave us a lot of problems.

"We weren't quite as organised I would have liked, but our determination got us through.

" The most important thing now, though, is Saturday's home game against Derby.''

Venables axed Christian Karembeu and the unlucky Robbie Mustoe from midfield to make room for the reutrn of skipper Paul Ince and Phil Stamp.

Bradford went into the tie uncewrtainbty again raging over the future of striker Stan Collymore.

The controversial Collymore, thrown a lifeline by the Bantams after un unhappy stint at Leiceser, turned down a weekend move to German side Stutgart.

Collymore, once linked with Boro, last night: "A move would be very appealing.

"I always wanted to stay in the Premiership and be the top goal scorer, but it's going to be very difficult for me because who is going to take me?''

The presence of Newcastle boss Bobby Robson and assistant Mick Wadsworth among a posse of scouts prompted pre-match talk that the Magpies might have the answer to Collymore's question.

But when asked about Collymore, Robson insisted he had no interest in the wayward star.

There was no Collymore on show however and fellow front-runner Benito Carbone, another destined to leave West Yorkshire, was only named as a substitute.

Dean Windass, one whose commitment to Bradford has never been in question, conjured the first effort on goal in the sixth minute with a powerful 30-yard snap shot which whistled just wide of Mark Schwarzer's left-hand post.

Boro posed their first threat in the 14th minute when Hamilton Ricard and Dean Gordon both rose to meet Curtis Fleming's cross and Teesside old boy Gary Walsh was fully extended to clutch the ball under his own bar.

But Bradford carved the closest challenge of the opening period when Robert Molenaar's header, from Eoin Jess's right-wing corner, rebounded back off a post which Schwarzer pounced on Dean Saunders' follow-up to make a desperate goalline save.

The speedy Saunders, who seems to have lost none of his pace with the passing years, broke clear soon afterwards to unleash a stinging drive which flashed narrowly wide.

Boro then mounted another rare attack, with Ricard forcing his way through on the left before clipping the ball across goal for Alen Boksic whose glancing header drifted wide.

But the dangerous Windass brought the best out of Schwarzer seven minutes from half-time with a vicious, dipping drive which the keeper did well to gather.

Stamp, whose willingness to get into goalscoring positions was evident on New Year's Day at Leeds where he spurned a late match-winning opening, produced the first attempt of the second half when he fired a first-time right-foot shot wide from a knockdown by Boksic.

But the Bantams continued to display more enterprise and endeavour and the outstanding Windass, driving forward from midfield at every opportunity, forced a block from Schwarzer which spilled to Saunders.

Luckily for Boro, however, the Welshman was unable to bring the ball under control and the chance was lost.

Windass was relentless in his search for a breakthrough and Schwarzer had to scamper across goal to gather a looping header from the home side's chief inspiration.

Ricard was fortunate to escape a booking on the hour when he recklessly led with his elbow and floored Andy O'Brien.

Boksic then showed brilliant vision in the 63rd minute to release Dean Gordon with a stunning reverse pass, but Ricard was too late to reach the left wing-back's low centre.

However, Ricard's hitherto wretched night was turned on its head when Ince fed him on the left and he produced a classic finish completely out of the blue.

The goal left Bradford deflated and four minutes later Walsh had to be alert to keep out a right-foot strike from Gianluca Festa.

Ricard was surprisingly replaced in the 72nd minute when Venables made a double substitution, with Stamp also withdrawn to facilitate the introduction of Karembeu and Noel Whelan.

*Middlesbrough have moved for Feyenoord midfielder Brett Emerton, the captain of Australia in the Sydney Olympics, who has also been checked by Manchester United and Leeds United.

Boro coach Terry Venables knows Emerton from his spell in charge of Australia during their World Cup qualifying games and he confirmed: "Bryan Robson and I are very interested in the player."

Manchester United wanted to take Emerton on trial but he preferred to make a permanent move to the Dutch club. Now his agent claims Boro have already made contact and that the 21-year-old is ready to join them.

"Brett has been waiting for the right English club to come along," he said. "He jumped at the chance to join Terry Venables."

Goal: Ricard (67mins, 0-1)

Bookings: Carbone (foul), Whelan (encroachment)

Referee: Graham Barber

Attendance: 7,303

Bradford (3-5-2): Walsh 7, Molenaar 7, O'Brien 6, Jacobs 6, Atherton 6 (Beagrie 77), McCall 7, McKinlay 6 (Petrescu 49, 6), Windass 8, Blake 6, Saunders 7 (Carbone 75), Jess 6. Subs (not used): Davison, Ward.

Middlesbrough (3-5-2): Schwarzer 7, Fleming 6, Vickers 6, Festa 7, Ehiogu 7, Gordon 7, Stamp 7 (Karembeu 72), Ince 7, Okon 8, Boksic 8 (Mustoe 85), Ricard 7 (Whelan 73). Subs (not used): Crossley, Deane. Booked: Whelan.

MANOF THE MATCH

DEAN Windass - worked tirelessly without rewar