Bradford City 1 Notts County 0

BANTAMS present put one over Bantams past to strengthen their position among the play-off pack.

A second win in three days made it a cracker of a Christmas for City, who are now unbeaten in nine games. What a way to see out the old year!

It had been billed as the Gary Jones and Garry Thompson show but instead it was the 2014 version that stood tall.

Rather than Jones coming back to sting his former employers, it was ex-County midfielder Gary Liddle – who had scored for them in the corresponding fixture last season – and Billy Knott who ruled the roost in midfield.

And Knott clinched this most satisfying of results with his fourth goal of the season, keeping up his proud record of every one leading to a City win.

Jones and Thompson contributed 202 appearances and a lifetime of memories in their two-year stint in claret and amber, so the warmth of the reaction from the home fans came as no surprise.

They had arrived at Valley Parade as part of the only team yet to lose on their travels this season in all four divisions. But not any more.

County certainly did not lack for experience – Jones and Thompson were among five players aged 34 or above, including former Leeds battler Alan Smith, Hayden Mullins and Northern Ireland international goalkeeper Roy Carroll.

Phil Parkinson had talked of shuffling the pack over the Christmas rush but made only one change from the Fleetwood win and that was forced upon him. Knott got his chance again because Mark Yeates suffered a knee injury from a strong tackle in that game.

City reverted back to playing two wingers after matching up Fleetwood with a midfield diamond. Andy Halliday moved wide on the left and was involved in the first threatening moment.

James Hanson flicked on to the Scot, who skipped away from centre half Mullins into the box. But a heavy touch took him too wide of Carroll and he could only sky the shot into the away fans.

Hanson set up Jon Stead for another off-target effort as City started brightly. Then Liddle picked out the lurking Knott, whose curler on the turn flew just over.

But the home mood was punctured in the 14th minute when Andrew Davies pulled up, rubbing his hamstring. So another Notts County old boy, former captain Alan Sheehan, entered the fray – to a very different reaction from the away end.

Stead’s flick from a corner ended in the side-netting but Notts went closest to breaking the stalemate with their first shot, Jake Cassidy’s skimming drive clipping the outside of the post.

James Meredith responded with a surging run and low cross to set up Halliday 12 yards out but the winger again got underneath it and cleared the bar.

City had racked up seven efforts on goal in the opening half hour but were yet to test Carroll – a problem that afflicted Fleetwood 48 hours earlier.

They had not made the most of their chances and were nearly made to pay when Thompson’s flick released Ryan Hall, who lobbed past the right post with only Jordan Pickford in front of him.

That acted as a spur for the home side, who finally turned pressure into a goal four minutes before the break.

Knott chased a ball down to the corner of the penalty area, where Carroll failed to control as he slid out. Thompson unwittingly got in his way as City kept the ball alive and Knott played a neat one-two with Meredith before firing home via a deflection off Mullins.

The soft pitch was proving a major obstacle for both sides as the surface cut up easily, making it a challenge to control and pass along the floor.

But City had looked the most adventurous and were well worth their half-time advantage for the fourth home game running. With a bit more composure in front of goal, their position could have been far more comfortable.

Knott began the second half in the same positive vein, attacking the Notts box before slipping an angled pass into Halliday’s path. But once again, his control betrayed him when well placed and the ball ran away from danger.

That stirred up the crowd as a rousing rendition of ‘Parkinson’s Bradford army’ boomed from the Kop. City forced their fifth corner but Hanson was unable to direct his header from Filipe Morais’ deep cross.

The pitch made its mark as Carroll scuffed a clearance horribly and the ball shot along the ground to Knott in the centre circle. But Jones nicked the ball away before the City midfielder could line up a long-range shot at the gaping goal.

Smith had been a peripheral figure – until he was subbed midway through the half. A few choice words must have been said behind the away dugout as he appeared to react to the fans and stewards were called into that section.

Having learned a painful lesson against Scunthorpe, City continued to push for a second goal with some sustained pressure. Knott and Stead linked neatly before teeing up Hanson but Carroll turned it past the post. But home hearts were briefly in their mouths when a Notts County corner popped out to Jones lurking on the edge of the penalty area. He met it well enough but there were plenty of bodies in the way to smother the impact.

Thompson received a standing ovation when he was subbed with five minutes left. The home fans were happy to show their appreciation now he was no longer a potential threat.

Francois Zoko, a late addition for the tiring Stead, nearly settled matters with an angled shot beneath Carroll. It looked in all the way but rolled agonisingly the wrong side of the far post.

But the job had been done and City could look back on the most satisfying Christmas possible.

They head into 2015 firmly ensconced in the top six – potentially a great platform to build on going into the second half of the season.

Attendance: 14,518

City v Notts County picture gallery