MARK Hughes thanked Valley Parade’s bumper crowd for playing their part in the late, late win over Colchester.

The Bantams struck twice in stoppage time to clinch a third victory on the bounce.

Andy Cook and substitute Scott Banks netted in the 2-0 win in front of a record home audience.

The 20,383 attendance was the highest at the stadium for a fourth-tier game - and Hughes felt they certainly helped to clinch the last-gasp three points.

“The crowd were great and got us over the line when we were pushing and needed that extra help,” said Hughes.

“We all got a little bit giddy at the end, myself included. There was a lot of emotion and fantastic noise in the stadium.

“That’s what we want to create every game if we can. It was a really important result for us.”

Cook marked his 100th appearance in a City shirt with his 19th league goal of the season - and 22nd in all competitions - and he then set up Banks for the second.

“He’s working really hard at the moment,” added Hughes. “He didn’t have a lot of leeway from the three centre halves and it was difficult for him to get into the game.

“But he’s finished with arguably the winning goal and then he’s produced an assist for the second.

“He’s had to wait like we all had to, but he’s come good.

“You always feel if you get the ball into the box, and we clearly did better towards the end of the game, he’ll get his head on things. They seem to rebound off his head very strongly!

“He’s in a fantastic place at the moment and doing really well. Goals are what he thrives on and that’s what he is delivering.”

City were beaten by a stoppage-time goal at Colchester in August and have also been pegged back late on at Valley Parade at other times.

The Bantams chief said: “We’ve had a few disappointments late in games and those are hard to take. But it’s really sweet when that happens in the reverse direction and I felt we deserved it.

“It was always going to be difficult. People might have underestimated the challenge.

“We knew that Colchester recruited well in January and are a decent team in a false position.”

Hughes kept the same starting line-up for the third time in eight games. Richie Smallwood, Alex Gilliead and Dara Costelloe were all subbed by the midway point of the second half.

“We had a long journey (to Gillingham in midweek) and a great result and performance with a high output physically.

“A lot of guys getting back like myself at 4am, others at 5am, and I felt that this week and I’m not playing.

“They looked at times a little bit leggy and that’s understandable.

“The edge to our play was just down a little bit but we kept going. I was able to freshen it up towards the end of the game and I think that helped our energy levels.

“That lifted us a bit and we went again.”