VERDICT: Bantams clear Bromley "minefield" for first home win

THE impromptu firework display behind the Bradford End seemed a little bit premature as City savoured their first home win.

Whistles and bangs from a neighbouring street greeted the warm-down while the subs were put through their paces running up and down the pitch at a deserted Valley Parade.

But there were a few more relevant rumblings going on closer to home.

The City dressing room was a scene of heated debate over the Bromley consolation goal that blew the chance of back-to-back clean sheets.

Byron Webster’s header, while celebrated enthusiastically by the visiting skipper, had no impact on the result of an afternoon where most things went City’s way.

But it caused some consternation in the defensive ranks – and an immediate post-match inquest.

That was music to Graham Alexander’s ears.

“I think this group has got the bit between its teeth,” said the City chief. “They are serious about what we’re trying to achieve here.

“That’s why we talk about bringing in promotion-winners and successful people. They know what it takes over the whole course and won’t get carried away from winning 3-1.

“They know what you have to do regularly and giving away cheap free-kicks and goals against 10 men could bite you on the backside later on.

“It’s great for me to come into a changing room and it’s already been sorted.”

Bromley’s goal did rob City of the opportunity to share top spot with Gillingham at this very early stage.

League tables after three games are no indicators of how the season might pan out – though you can be sure that had the Bantams sat second from bottom rather than top right now then social media would be crackling with indignation.

But seven points from nine represents the best start since the Derek Adams honeymoon three years ago.

And, fun fact, City now boast the second longest unbeaten league record in the top four divisions – 10 games stretching back to last Easter.

Only Premier League champions Manchester City can boast a better run, although their 25-match streak might take some catching.

But there were plenty of smiles on Valley Parade faces after confidently negotiating a fixture that had screamed minefield.

Richie Smallwood leads the City procession after his penalty (Image: Thomas Gadd)

Think back to Dagenham, Barnet, Forest Green, Crawley, Stevenage, Yeovil – an endless list of EFL new boys who rocked up to BD8 and delivered a bloody punch on the nose.

Bromley, with two wins under their belt already, looked another potential gate-crasher with no fear of reputations or lofty surroundings.

But from the moment referee Scott Simpson took a while to register the goal-line hand ball that saw defender Ashley Charles see red, the outcome of this contest was never in any doubt.

It was a good save to be fair, a reflex right hand to push Aden Baldwin’s goal-bound effort on to the bar in the scramble from City’s first corner.

On the anniversary of Groundhog Day this weekend, some no doubt worried about a repeat of the farce that passed for Andy Cook’s “no goal” on the same spot the Saturday before.

But Simpson got it spot on to send Charles packing and hand City the ideal chance to calm any tension on or off the pitch.

The smattering of boos when Calum Kavanagh handed the ball to Richie Smallwood to take were unsavoury and unnecessary.

But the captain took that in his stride, banishing any thoughts of the miss at Grimsby to send goalkeeper Grant Smith the wrong way with a well-placed penalty.

It kicked off what would be an excellent performance from Smallwood, even if his detractors will no doubt take plenty more convincing.

His team took a grip on proceedings from that point, pulling and stretching Bromley’s reduced resources as they probed for more reward.

Chances came and went – two for Cook, a near-post header from the all-action Alex Pattison batted away, Antoni Sarcevic’s cross-goal nod planted the wrong side of the post.

Calum Kavanagh was denied by a hand ball on the goal-line (Image: Thomas Gadd)

Bromley hung on to their hope of making half-time only a goal down. But then that man Cook struck in the nick of time.

Sarcevic won possession back in the attacking half, something City did well for most of the game, and Smallwood swung the loose ball invitingly towards the back post.

Cook was denied first time by Smith but made no mistake with the rebound.

Bromley kept two up front and Alexander had warned his side about their reputation as one of the best on the counter-attack at this level.

The Ravens had more of the ball after the break and the atmosphere flattened for a while, the crowd enjoying the rare luxury of City being in control.

The changes further disrupted the momentum but those who joined the fray all had a point to prove.

Alexander had stuck with the same 11 starters from the Salford stalemate; the likes of Bobby Pointon, Jamie Walker, Clarke Oduor and Olly Sanderson needed to provide a selection nudge in the limited time available.

Pointon did just that with the third goal that put the lid on it.

Sarcevic teed up the local lad on the edge of the box to work enough space for another of those finishes that he made his own at the end of last season.

Smith possibly should have done better, diving over the ball as it arrowed towards the bottom corner, but it seems a bit churlish to take anything away from the scorer.

Tyreik Wright is all smiles after Bobby Pointon's second-half goal (Image: Thomas Gadd)

Pointon wheeled away pointedly gesturing to the City badge as the faithful once more rejoiced with “one of their own”.

Then came the late blot on the landscape as Walker fouled Lewis Leigh 30 yards out and Webster, a veteran of Millwall’s Wembley win over Stuart McCall’s Bantams, converted the header that would provide the biggest talking point in the team debrief.

Focusing on that negative among themselves was just what the manager wanted. The demand for standards not to drop will continue week on week.

The fact that no team can boast a 100 per cent record after only three games shows just how tight League Two could be this time. There is no Wrexham or Stockport to run away with it.

Little lapses of concentration and moments switching off could make a difference in the long run. Best to learn those lessons quickly.