You could say Eoin Jess had the best of both worlds.

The hot Scot bagged the hat-trick which steered City to their first win in October. He also missed the nerve-shredding finish when Watford threatened to gatecrash the party.

Jess was blissfully unaware of the relief that greeted the final whistle as he was having ten stitches put in behind his right ear following a clash with Watford striker Heidar Helguson.

Jess said: "I was lying on the treatment table at the time having gone off. I missed about the last ten minutes but that's the way to do it!

"I'm sure the guys were delighted with the result but I don't know because I didn't see any of them!"

There's certainly nothing dull about Valley Parade this season. Goals tend to fly in at both ends - and no home fan would have been too shocked to see City's 4-1 lead frittered away to ensure nails were bitten right down to the quick. Manager Jim Jefferies, pressure suitably eased, said: "We thought we'd knocked the wind out of them but their second goal was a result of the bad run we've been on.

"There was a lack of confidence, we were a bit apprehensive and hesitant and they sensed that. Then they got a penalty which looked 50-50 and after that we were always going to be under pressure - I'm just so glad the players held on."

The Jess treble was the first by a City player since Dean Windass against Derby on Good Friday 18 months ago and took his haul for the season to eight, the decisive third coming off his knee as he deflected an attempted clearance by Paul Robinson.

Jess said: "I didn't know a lot about it. I think it hit me but I'm definitely claiming it. But perhaps it's a sign that our luck is starting to change.

"There has been speculation about the manager after this string of results and we're delighted to get the win for him. It will lift a lot of weight off his shoulders.

"It's our performances that have to keep managers in jobs and we've been performing well but our luck hasn't been in. Look at the Millwall match last week where they had three or four shots and scored three while we must have made about 20 chances and not really taken any.

"But we're an experienced team, professional enough to know we had to get a result. When we were three goals up it should have been a stroll in the park but, although we made it hard for ourselves, we dug in and got the win.

"Hopefully that will be the catalyst to get us back into winning ways. The mood in the camp has always been great, we enjoy training with the manager and have a laugh and we're confident we can start to pick it up again."

Watford boss Gianluca Vialli had warnedbefore the game that City would be like a wounded animal ready to pounce.

His tactics revolved around "trying to destroy the link between the supporters and players and put them under even more pressure".

Instead the Bantams went a goal up from their first meaningful attack through the head of new boy Matt Etherington and the bond between pitch and stands was strengthened.

Wave after wave of chants of "Jimmy Jefferies Bradford Army" rang around the ground in a defiant show of support for the gaffer.

The only dissenter seemed to be the fella in the main stand with the misspelt 'Jefferies Out' replica shirt who bizarrely refused to celebrate any of the goals.

He was in a minority of one. The rest went potty as City took out the frustration of this miserable month.

Gunnar Halle, having an absolute stormer at right back, set up Jess for the second as he had done with Etherington's early strike.

And when Wayne Jacobs and Andy Tod laid on number three for Jess straight from the re-start, we were all predicting a Gillingham-esque scoreline.

Even when Heidar Helguson notched one back, the Bantams bounced back up the other end where Jess deliberately stuck his knee in the exact spot where Robinson's whack out of the six-yard box was aiming.

With any other team it would be 4-1 and game over. City, as we know, like to live on the edge.

Watford, rejuvenated by their three substitutes, got a smart one back through Tommy Smith who then knocked in a dubious penalty as home confidence began to waiver.

Gary Walsh made a crucial save from one free-kick while another was wastefully hoisted into the Symphony Stand.

Even when Patrick Blondeau got his marching orders for a second hack at Etherington, there were still a few flutters as City tried to over-elaborate in midfield.

But five long, long minutes of added time were seen off and three points were tacked on to the City tally for the first time since September 29.

With another home game tomorrow against Wimbledon and Crewe away on Friday, the uncertainty of recent weeks could quickly be forgotten.

For now, City can toast the bloke with the groggy head and perfectly-placed knee.