Ashley Ward struck twice - his first goals at Valley Parade this year - as City opened their home account in an exciting Yorkshire derby against Rotherham.

Ward opened and finished the scoring with new boys Gus Uhlenbeek and Michael Proctor also hitting the target.

But nerves were jangling when Rotherham subs Richie Barker and Mark Robins pulled goals back before the City captain sealed it late on.

Robert Molenaar underwent a lengthy fitness test on the pitch before being passed fit for the newly-paid Bantams.

The Dutchman missed the fantastic win at Ipswich with a back problem but, much to the relief of manager Nicky Law, felt strong enough to come back in for the crocked Peter Atherton.

City's injury jinx struck again yesterday when Andy Tod was diagnosed with a hernia, stretching resources still further.

Both sides gave away fouls inside the first 45 seconds, a sign of the physical encounter to come. Ashley Ward nearly took advantage of some defensive hesitation in the Rotherham ranks but he was pulled back for grabbing at Paul Warne's shirt.

Rotherham threatened in the eighth minute when John Mullin dispossessed Paul Evans on halfway. Gus Uhlenbeek got across in time to deny Byfield in the City penalty area.

As the Millers pressed, Andy Myers half-blocked a dangerous cross from Alan Lee and the loose ball fell for Warne whose shot was deflected off Bower for the game's first corner.

Lee was clearly full of confidence with four goals in the last four games but so was City's loan striker Michael Proctor, Portman Road's match-winner, and he lifted the home crowd with a shot across Rotherham's goal.

After 14 minutes Molenaar went down clutching his face after an aerial clash with Lee who was booked while the City centre-half received treatment.

Proctor showed neat skills to skip round Chris Swailes and Rob Scott to set up Danny Cadamarteri for a shot which Paul Hurst turned behind for City's first corner. It was cleared for a throw-in and from that Uhlenbeek found Michael Standing for a 20-yard shot but the offside flag was up.

The game was starting to open up and suddenly City grabbed the lead after 24 minutes through WARD. It was simply executed, Cadamarteri put in a cross from the left wing and the centre-forward rose well to nod past Mike Pollitt.

It was Ward's first goal for 14 games and amazingly his first at Valley Parade since Boxing Day. It was also the first from the home side at the ground since beating Crewe 2-0 on March 23.

Ronnie Moore had angered many at City with his critical comments during the summer's financial crisis and the fans in the Carlsberg Stand were quick to taunt the Rotherham boss about the score.

Rotherham sent the big men forward again for a corner after 34 minutes. Molenaar sliced it straight up in the air before Warne gently lofted the ball into Davison.

Rotherham wasted a promising break seven minutes before half-time as Byfield shunned the unmarked Warne and decided to go it alone but drove harmlessly off target.

Lee continued to look lively and belted one over Davison's bar from 25 yards out after the ball broke off Molenaar. But City's centre-halves were putting in a tremendous amount of work to keep Rotherham at arm's length.

Right on half time Lee left Molenaar trailing in his wake and cut menacingly into the City penalty area. Davison came to the rescue of the home side with a two-handed save at his near post. The keeper looked less confident trying to punch away the corner but City eventually got the ball out.

HT: City 1 Rotherham 0

Within minutes of the restart City had reinforced their lead with a goal made by the new-boys.

Standing worked an opening just outside the Rotherham penalty area before finding Gray. He rolled it into the path of UHLENBEEK charging in from the right and the full back hammered the ball into the roof of the Rotherham net.

That certainly calmed any nerves and City roared forward again but as Ward slid in on Pollitt, the ball fell just behind him.

Rotherham thought they had pulled one back almost straight away when Lee stabbed the ball in off the underside of the bar but the linesman's flag was already raised.

City were starting to swagger and Proctor's shot looped off Warne and just over the bar. Bizarrely the referee awarded a goalkick.

City continued to knock on the door and it was no surprise when they went 3-0 ahead in the 57th minute. PROCTOR claimed his second goal in a week with a side-foot past Pollitt after Ward had dribbled his way through the Rotherham rearguard.

"Ronnie, what's the score?" boomed around the ground as the fans savoured the prospect of a second successive victory. There was also the promise of more goals as Proctor and Ward linked up again but City's captain was unable to apply a killer touch from close range.

Scott was booked for a foul as the bedraggled visitors showed their frustration.

Lee back-headed across the City goal - which proved to be his last involvement as Moore gambled by bringing on all three subs. Off went Lee, Byfield and Mullin as Mark Robins, Richie Barker and Nick Daws were thrown on.

Byfield didn't seem to take too kindly to being replaced and a few words appeared to be said with Moore before the striker headed straight for the dressing room.

The switch had an immediate effect as within three minutes of arriving, BARKER was unmarked to head past Davison from Garner's cross.

That rejuvenated the away side and Barker was only inches away from a second from Rotherham's next attack with a diving header just past the post.

City's composure had temporarily deserted them although there was no need to worry about a long-range blast from Martin McIntosh that sailed into the Rotherham fans behind Davison's goal.

Chris Sedgwick whipped in another dangerous cross at the other end which floated over Davison and Uhlenbeek put it behind for a corner. City struggled to get it away and McIntosh fired in a fierce effort which bounced off Davison's chest and into the path of ROBINS to slot home.

Suddenly a game which had looked well won was alive once more. Law decided to freshen things up by replacing Standing with Jorgensen as City faced a nervous final eight minutes.

But City wrapped it up after Pollitt spilled a routine shot from Cadamarteri and WARD bundled the ball into the net from close in.

Ward bore down on goal again but shunned the chance of a hat-trick by trying to set up Proctor, only for McIntosh to crucially intercept.