Bradford City 2, Barnsley 1; Richard Sutcliffe at Valley Parade.

When Gordon Watson came off the bench for his first league action at Valley Parade since suffering a career-threatening injury, no-one could have forecast the fairytale return he would enjoy.

Only seven minutes remained on the electronic scoreboard when Watson became Paul Jewell's final substitute of the afternoon as the City boss looked for the combination to unlock Barnsley's resolute defence.

The Tykes had gone in front after 54 minutes thanks to a typical piece of goal-poaching by the impressive Ashley Ward and, despite City laying siege to the visitors goal, the points appeared to be heading to South Yorkshire.

However, quick as a flash, Watson struck with two goals in three minutes to prompt delirious scenes at an emotional Valley Parade.

Nothing will ever make up for the former record signing losing 18 months of his career when he should have been playing at his peak. However, I doubt the Londoner has scored two more satisfying goals than the ones which settled this Yorkshire derby.

For the first, Watson was involved in the build-up when he played a fine one-two with Stuart McCall on the edge of the penalty area before the City skipper laid the pass to Lee Mills. The Bantams substitute then received the ball from Mills before drilling his shot in off the post and racing off to celebrate in style.

However Watson was not finished yet and with just 60 seconds left he struck again.

The excellent Robbie Blake showed great skill to skip round Darren Barnard and Andy Liddell on the right before unleashing a fierce shot which Barnsley goalkeeper Lars Leese could only block.

Watson was the first to react and he slammed a shot from eight yards into the net.

It was an unbelievable finale to a Yorkshire derby which had been a major disappointment in the opening 45 minutes.

City began with a 4-5-1 formation with Blake, Peter Beagrie and Nigel Pepper all instructed to support Mills up front.

However, the former Port Vale man was left too exposed at times and with the City defence playing well against the lively Ward and Jan Aage Fjortoft, it meant the game was a stalemate.

City had the best chances just before the break, with both Mills and Beagrie going close but thankfully the game was transformed after the interval.

Paul Jewell reverted to using a two-man attack and with Beagrie in excellent form in his favoured left side of midfield role, City finally clicked into gear.

Unfortunately for the City boss, his side conceded the first goal for the eighth time in their nine league outings this season.

It was a rare lapse in concentration by the otherwise impressive central defensive pairing of Darren Moore and Andy O'Brien, who allowed both Fjortoft and Ward to win headers in the City six-yard box.

However, City have a new found sense of belief these days and after getting through a rocky spell immediately after the goal where Gary Walsh pulled off three fine saves, they soon took the game to the Reds.

And it was the dismissal of Martin Bullock after 76 minutes, for his second bookable offence, which heralded almost constant pressure on the Barnsley goal.

Jewell obviously had belief in his side and with the introduction of Isaiah Rankin and Watson it meant City had four strikers on the field.

Beagrie was in sensational form throughout this spell with his inviting crosses and trickery out wide causing the Tykes defence a whole host of problems while Blake also impressed on the ball.

Watson's late double now means City have won four in a row and lost just once in seven and if they can earn a victory against Port Vale tomorrow then all of a sudden City will be safely ensconced in mid-table.

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