Arms aloft and fists clenched, Robert Molenaar saluted a pivotal moment in City's season.

The Dutchman's unprompted reaction at the final whistle revealed completely how much this 1-0 win meant to the players.

Seven straight defeats, no November wages, another relegation struggle on the cards. It's been a grim spell even for a dressing room hardened to adversity by the events of the summer.

Beating Nottingham Forest meant more than just three points. As Molenaar showed in a flash of emotion, this was about making a stand against the troubles that stack up constantly against everyone at the club.

For all the public appeals from Julian Rhodes and Gordon Gibb urging help from the fans and local businesses, they needed hard evidence on the pitch that things could change. Saturday's victory must have provided it.

The supporters and the players got the glimmer of hope they had waited so long for. Against a team certain to be in the play-off shake-up come May, City dished up a display that suggested that a major corner was being turned.

Let's face it, even the goal must be a good omen.

When did City last score from a corner?

Certainly not this season and Nicky Law was scratching his head to recall any at all as he comes up to the first anniversary in the Bantams helm.

Corners were a big talking point when City played Forest a month ago. Law's side may have lost 3-0 but they swamped the hosts on the corner count.

They forced an amazing 17 - and got no reward from any of them. Despite spending extra training sessions dusting up the set-pieces, when it really mattered they couldn't see the Forest for the trees.

But it all changed on Saturday four minutes before half-time. Lewis Emanuel whipped it in with pace and Molenaar slipped away from Marlon Harewood to thump the ball beyond keeper Darren Ward.

Law was delighted with the manner of the goal and, in particular, the unlikely source of it. After all, Molenaar's only previous goal for City was this time two years ago.

Law said: "If I'm honest, I'd have to say that big Bob's had a bit of a indifferent season and been a little erratic at times. But when he plays like that he is a big part for us and can be such an influential player.

"He won everything in general play and was dominant in both boxes. The goal capped a great performance especially coming from a corner.

"We have been concerned with the lack of goal-scoring opportunities from set-plays. But of late our delivery has been that much

better."

Molenaar was looking forward to phoning home with some good news for a change.

The Terminator said: "It's been very depressing talking to friends after matches and getting calls from Holland. I can't give them happy words because it's all about not winning again and conceding silly goals.

"But this is a huge confidence boost especially to score from a corner which we have really worked on. It's been far too long since my last goal but that is probably a sign of a team that has been struggling.

"Hopefully we can now turn a few corners with our set-pieces and especially our performances. Solidness in the key word for the rest of the season.

"After our good start we were possibly looking at a play-off position but it would be ridiculous to say that now. Survival is the main thing and we can achieve that by being solid and hard to beat."

Solid was the word about City who refused to budge an inch against Forest's free-flowing play. Division One's top gun David Johnson had one chance which he headed wide but otherwise was blotted out by Molenaar and Andy Myers. In front of them, Peter Atherton and Jamie Lawrence put the squeeze on midfield. What a difference those two are making as they find their feet after so long on the sidelines.

Law was forced to shuffle his pack again with Wayne Jacobs joining Gus Uhlenbeek in the sin-bin. Lewis Emanuel and Simon Francis retreated to full backs - and did an excellent job - while Michael Standing was recalled.

He went right of midfield with Claus Jorgensen asked to show his versatility once again by switching from right back to left wing. They supplied the energy and attacking zest alongside the muscle of the central pair.

Standing could have had a goal, sending a volley screaming inches over the bar and then hitting the post with a header from an Emanuel cross in the aftermath of Molenaar's strike.

Andy Gray was a constant menace up front. "He tormented his old club" was Law's assessment.

Gray should have doubled the lead just after the hour after a probing pass from Standing sent him clear.

This was Delroy Facey a la Gillingham all over again and unfortunately the end product was similarly frustrating. Having rounded the advancing Ward, the ball bobbled up as Gray try to hook it home from wide and his left-footer looped into the howling Forest fans.

But unlike the week before, City kept up their chins and having survived an immediate scare from Johnson, they set about smothering everything Forest could throw their way.

Forest boss Paul Hart had a whinge about the goal and claimed the referee missed an offside. But he could not argue with the tenacity and hunger of a home side clearly fed up with getting beaten.