VADAINE Oliver has now been awarded the goal that got away.

The EFL have confirmed that he will be credited with the eighth-minute header in City’s 3-2 win over Salford on New Year’s Day.

It initially went down as an own goal from Ammies defender Theo Vassell - to the consternation of the big striker and Mark Hughes.

The decision has since been reviewed by the EFL’s Dubious Goals panel who contacted the Bantams early this morning to say that it will now be recorded as Oliver’s.

Hughes was adamant that it should have been his anyway, to go with a second scored later in the first half.

Speaking before the ruling was changed, the City boss said: “I’m not convinced that it is an own goal, if I’m honest. Vadaine thought he got some kind of touch on it.

“It’s like somebody having a shot and it deflecting in when it was going to go in anyway. It should still count as your goal.

“Being a striker, I will always be in the strikers’ union and will back for him to get it rather than an own goal.

“It would be good if he gets credited with it because he did really well on the day. He obviously scored the other goal but a brace would be nice for him.”

Sunday was Oliver’s 20th league appearance since joining the Bantams from Gillingham but only his fifth from the start. City have won both games since Hughes brought him back in ahead of Andy Cook.

Hughes added: “Even if he hadn’t got on the scoresheet, the level of his performance was very good and I’m really pleased for him.

“It shows his value to the team and the squad.

“He hasn’t had that many opportunities but it’s important that when you do, you grasp it and make an impression which he certainly did.

“He’s on the board in the league. It’s always important as a striker.

“He’s obviously scored before but it’s been a while since his first goal.

“We need more to chip in. We can’t just rely on Andy’s contribution.

“Andy’s been fantastic in the first half of the season but others need to step up as well. Hopefully that will be the case.”

Oliver responded to being named in the League Two team of the week by tweeting: “It’s been a while.”

Hughes recalled an occasion in his own career in 1999 when he was denied a goal in a game against Leeds because the ball pinged straight back into play.

The Welshman met a corner from Matt Le Tissier with a close-range volley that appeared to fly in but referee Alan Wiley thought it had ricocheted back in a scrum of players.

“I remember one when I was playing for Southampton. I had a volley and was convinced it had gone in.

“The (advertising) boards at the old Dell were very close to the pitch and I thought I’d whacked it into the back of the net. It hit the boar and came straight back out.

“But the referee thought I’d missed the goal and didn’t give it and just played on. To this day, I’m convinced it was a goal, I’d smashed it into the back of the net and they weren’t having it.

“That was obviously without VAR. These days it would have been sorted out very quickly.”