VERDICT: Hughes masterstroke puts Bantam bandwagon back on track

SOMETIMES management must seem quite straightforward.

Mark Hughes could be excused for thinking that after four fruitful days that have steered City’s promotion bandwagon back into the fast lane.

A switch of formation and personnel, derided by many before the game, paid off to end the home hoodoo against Harrogate.

And then the Bantams chief pulled off what proved to be an inspired substitution yesterday to clinch a thrilling start to 2023.

His treble sub halfway through the second half immediately came up trumps with two new arrivals combining with their first touches for Abo Eisa to head the winner.

There couldn’t be a more popular figure to receive the plaudits for sealing another big three points.

Eisa has been through the mill and then some with his horrific injuries since signing for City 18 months ago. He earned that moment in the spotlight celebrating beneath a jubilant Kop.

What a difference a week makes as the Boxing Day blues of Carlisle were blown away at a bouncing Valley Parade.

The Bantams go into their blank weekend up to fifth and have narrowed the gap to the automatic spots to four points - knocking back a close rival in the process.

Then again, City have had an impressive recent record ringing in the new year.

This was, after all, their sixth straight win in the opening game in January.

Not surprisingly, Hughes kept faith with the 11 that had ended the lengthy wait for an elusive home win to see off the old year against Harrogate.

There was a welcome addition to the subs in Jamie Walker, who was finally over the Christmas illness that left him bed-ridden for almost a week.

Boos predictably greeted Elliot Watt’s first involvement - which turned to cheers when his flat free-kick was swept clear from the City box. Odin Bailey’s awkward corner then looped off the bar as the visitors made the early running.

But it was City who struck first on eight minutes against the run of play.

Brad Halliday floated an angled cross towards the far post where Vadaine Oliver jumped with Theo Vassell to loop a header over keeper Tom King. The Salford defender may have got the last touch but again it was a cracking start for the Bantams.

Unfortunately, the advantage proved to be brief and was gone in five minutes.

Bailey sent Matt Smith through one-on-one with Harry Lewis - only for the City keeper to block with an outstretched left leg.

But Salford came again and Richard Nartey flicked across goal for Conor McAleny to beat Lewis with a precisely-placed volley into the roof of the net.

It was the first time that City had conceded in the opening 15 minutes in the league this season.

Glyn Hodges and Mark Hughes bellow instructions (Image: Thomas Gadd)

The action was certainly end-to-end - and the hosts restored their lead before the half hour.

Tyreik Wright’s right-wing cross was flicked goalwards by Alex Gilliead, who seemed to be involved in most things, and touched by Vassell.

King scrambled to block and the ball span off the post and bar before Oliver made sure from the rebound just in front of the line.

The big man was potentially on a City hat-trick and tested King with another header from Richie Smallwood’s set-up.

The crowd were right into it as the Bantams continued on the offensive and ended the half with King beating away a fizzing effort from Wright.

The second period exploded into life just before the hour mark - as City went within a whisker of moving further ahead but then saw their lead snatched away for a second time.

A short corner routine between Harry Chapman and Smallwood worked space for the skipper to try and angled drive that cannoned back of the far post.

And Salford made the most of that escape to counter quickly, Matty Platt forced to take the booking to body-check McAleny just outside the City box.

There was no escape as Watt tapped the  free-kick short to McAleny, whose ferocious shot clipped off Harry Chapman in the wall on his unstoppable path to the top corner of the net.

Hughes made a triple sub at the three-quarter mark, Oliver leaving the action to a thoroughly-deserved standing ovation.

The impact of the subs was spectacular - with two of them involved in restoring City’s lead yet again within 30 seconds of entering the field.

Halliday pumped a long free-kick from the centre circle on to Cook’s head and fellow new arrival Eisa gobbled up the assist to nod home from inside the six-yard box.

Valley Parade was bouncing once more - a complete contrast to the tepid backdrop to the previous game - and you couldn’t take your eyes off the action. Even the inconsistency of referee Neil Hair, particularly when it came to white shirts rolling around, was not spoiling the fun.

Walker, the third arrival of that treble change, then came close to a fourth goal.

Wright played him in with a neat one-two and he dinked the ball past the advancing King - but it rolled agonisingly past the post.

Salford were far from done and almost fashioned a third equaliser in a spirited finale, Smith picking out the stretching Bailey to clip the post.

Five nervous minutes of added time - which spilled into at least six - cranked up the tension and Walker and Watt both got involved in a bit of shoving as tempers boiled.

But City survived a scare or two, Lewis pouncing on a deflected shot to a roar almost as big as those that had greeted the goals, to rubberstamp a victory that felt every bit as significant as the one in the reverse fixture in October.