Jack Shepherd's special moment in win to enjoy for Bantams

WHO knows if Zinedine Zidane is one of those people who Googles their own name.

But should the decorated Frenchman unexpectedly stumble across his mention in Valley Parade’s post-match plaudits, you’d like to think a Gallic nod of appreciation towards Jack Shepherd’s direction would be very much in order.

Graham Alexander referencing Zidane’s stunner for Real Madrid in the 2002 Champions’ League final is not something you would expect – even for a man of many words like the City manager.

Hardly the same stage of course but Gillingham will have shared the despair that Bayer Leverkusen felt over two decades ago as the screaming volley rocketed towards the top corner. Nobody in the world stops those.

It also provided the most emphatic answer to the good-natured jibes at the training ground the day before.

“Any chance of the centre halves getting on the end of anything” was the gist of the comments that had bounced around the changing room.

Set-pieces, and most importantly City’s lack of end product from them, have been a growing discussion point from manager downwards. Any chance of a goal?

Like London buses, you wait ages for one to come along and then two arrive at once.

The centre halves’ union delivered their response with not one but two goals that derived from set-plays.

Neill Byrne got the ball rolling from a Jamie Walker corner before Shepherd provided the ultimate talking point with that crashing finish after Gillingham failed to deal decisively with Richie Smallwood’s free-kick.

The visiting back four had stuck to the main job they had been tasked by boss Mark Bonner – that of taming Andy Cook.

But instead, they came unstuck against two defenders.

City, having trailed at home for the first time this season, were on their way to a third straight win and belief surged through Valley Parade veins.

The formbook had suggested that was on the cards given that Gillingham had won only one of their previous 10 meetings.

They also stumbled into BD8 on the back of three straight losses which has made their stay at the League Two summit a very brief one.

It’s been a while since Neil Harris used to large it about never being beaten at Valley Parade.

But Bonner’s team showed shades of Gillingham past with a strong, physical line-up consisting entirely of last season’s players. Six changes included a recall for towering target man Oli Hawkins, a City heartbreaker from the Harris era.

Neill Byrne returned to the side with the equaliser (Image: Thomas Gadd)

But the Bantams are getting accustomed to dealing with giant centre forwards after Newport’s even taller Kyle Hudlin in the last home outing.

Byrne’s return could not have been timed better to deal with Hawkins in a fascinating personal duel.

Hawkins may have won twice the aerial challenges with his added inches but the Irishman’s leadership of the back three played a significant role in City winning the overall battle of strength.

He was a reassuring guide for Cheick Diabate and the excellent Shepherd to help restrict Gillingham to just three efforts on target.

Even given their wobbly form this month, the Kent side promised to be a tough nut to crack.

The first goal looked crucial. City’s record when they get it has been exemplary; Gillingham, in contrast, have lost every game where they conceded the opener.

Things looked to be going nicely on script when the Bantams had the ball in the net early. But Calum Kavanagh paid for eagerness to break his duck and was flagged offside.

Instead, it was Gillingham who went in front on a counter led by George Lapslie, a player David Sharpe knows very well from Mansfield.

Tim Dieng, a player everyone at City knows very well, cut the ball back in the box and Jayden Clarke dinked it deftly past Sam Walker and in off the post.

Cheick Diabate and City's back three had to deal with a physical threat (Image: Thomas Gadd)

Another test of character for the Bantams – and one they stood up to magnificently.

There was no hint of panic at going behind; nor when Brad Halliday’s sliding interception trying to deal with another Lapslie break sent the ball rolling at a snail’s pace against his own post.

Clarke Oduor and Jamie Walker continued to drive the team forward while Smallwood provided that extra cover for the back three at the other end, getting his foot in to break things up.

City lost Tyreik Wright to a tight hamstring but Lewis Richards is growing used to lengthy substitute appearances and maintained the energy levels down the left.

The equaliser came seven minutes after the enforced change – with the first bona fide set-piece goal of the campaign.

Jamie Walker’s corner brushed off two Gillingham heads and past a flapping Jake Turner on its way to Byrne, who provided a cushioned finish from close range.

Turner, in goal for the injured Glenn Morris, looked like a cat on hot bricks every time a cross pinged in – and was culpable once again leading up to Shepherd’s magic moment right on half-time.

Richards won a foul and Smallwood’s free-kick left Gillingham scrabbling to clear their lines. Byrne’s header was blocked with the keeper in no man’s land before the ball was shuttled away as far as the edge of the box.

Unfortunately for Gillingham, Shepherd had made himself room and lurked there with deadly intent to send a left-foot volley arrowing into the roof of the net.

It capped the best first half of football from City this season and they continued to take the game towards their opponents when attacking a boisterous Kop.

Clarke Oduor twice went close for City in the second half (Image: Thomas Gadd)

The fans were clearly enjoying the show and provided an increasingly vocal backdrop. It felt how Valley Parade should be and the team responded to that backing.

Oduor dribbled enthusiastically through the blue ranks, Kavanagh went close to that elusive first goal and Turner made amends for his earlier indecision with a couple of saves to keep his side in it.

The boos that greeted Jonny Williams being thrown into the fray proved that his 11th hour snub of Mark Hughes had not been forgotten.

But his impact was minimal as Gillingham’s heavy late possession produced little of consequence against resolute hosts determined not to let their advantage slip.

It had been an awkward week with sickness sweeping the ranks – and claiming Jay Benn from the starting line-up – but City found a way through.

Another challenge overcome but the next quickly awaits with Tuesday night's trek to Cheltenham.