Bradford City 3 Portsmouth 1

CITY took a big stride along the road to redemption last night as Simon Grayson chalked up his second win in charge.

The Bantams boss is ready to sit down with chairman Edin Rahic very soon for talks that will determine his future.

They will hinge on the direction he sees the club taking – but at least, for now, Grayson has got them heading the right way again.

He can go into those discussions with the joint-owner with some credit in the bank after the 3-1 Valley Parade victory over Portsmouth.

It made for another enjoyable evening for the home faithful who are beginning to see a bit of resistance in these closing weeks.

The only concern was a potentially serious injury for Tyrell Robinson, whose game ended on a stretcher.

But again it was much better from the Bantams – and the home fans even got to see a goal before half-time!

You could have flown to Jamaica since the last time City scored in the first half.

It had been 12 games – or the equivalent of nine hours of trying - since Charlie Wyke’s penalty at Bristol Rovers in January.

And you had to go back to December 30 against Oxford for the last City goal before half-time at Valley Parade.

But Nathaniel Knight-Percival’s 14th-minute strike finally ended the drought and set the tone for another spirit-lifting display against an opponent nursing play-off ambitions.

Substitute Matty Lund proved an inspired change as he fired City’s second within seven minutes of coming on.

And Wyke set the seal in the lengthy stoppage time with his first goal since February 10 – the day before Grayson was appointed.

Last night was exactly a year to the day that Portsmouth sealed promotion from League Two. They had arrived for their first Valley Parade visit since 2003 on the back of a six-game unbeaten run that topped the division’s form table.

But they left shell-shocked with their play-off ambitions severely dented as City chalked up a league double with a win far more warranted than the one at Fratton Park in October.

The landscape had altered significantly in the six months since, with City dropping like a stone over the second half of the season.

But Grayson’s encouragement from last week’s battling draw with Shrewsbury was reflected with an unchanged City starting line-up. That was the first time he had named the same again – and only the fifth occasion all season.

The presence of a large away following from the south coast added to the atmosphere of a crowd that was bigger than the previous game but still well down on the usual turn-out.

The Kop responded well to the noise emanating from the Bradford end as the scrappy opening exchanges were played out amid a decent backdrop.

Portsmouth had the first sighter as Colin Doyle parried Kal Naismith’s flick-on from a throw-in.

But it was City who struck the opening blow– and finally broke that first-half duck.

It came from their first corner, conceded by Portsmouth defender Dion Donohue under pressure from Alex Gilliead.

The Bantams took full advantage as Tony McMahon’s kick was flicked across goal by the leaping Matt Kilgallon for centre-back partner Knight-Percival to gleefully rifle into the roof of the net at the back post.

Valley Parade erupted – to say it had been a long time coming was a huge understatement.

As City’s confidence soared, the goal knocked Portsmouth out of their stride. It was a situation that both clubs had not been used to of late.

The visitors looked to gather their thoughts and Colin Doyle flapped away a 25-yard drive from Connor Ronan.

Bruenker’s foul on Ben Close then gave Portsmouth a free-kick in a threatening position. Brett Pitman opted to try to go under the wall with his attempt but Doyle was not fooled and smothered safely.

But again there was more gusto about City’s play – they were closing players down, getting stuck in and ensuring their opponents had no time to dwell on the ball.

From Charlie Wyke right through the side, there was a determination to chase and harry – a welcome antidote to some of the limp displays from recent months.

Another set-piece threatened more joy for the home side as McMahon again picked out Knight-Percival lurking with intent. But this time the defender could not direct his attempt on target.

There was little in it between the sides at the break – City’s lead came from their only effort on goal - but again the home fans responded to the enthusiasm in their performance.

City began the second half in similar fashion with a couple of early corners and Callum Guy, who again looked full of energy in midfield, fired over the bar.

Gareth Evans had made little impression on his return to Valley Parade and made way in a double switch after 56 minutes as Portsmouth boss Kenny Jackett shook things up.

As the noise grew behind the City goal, there was a half chance for Ben Close but he flicked wide.

Sensing Portsmouth were trying to have a go, the Kop cranked up their own volume.

But it was the away end celebrating after 61 minutes as Pitman fired the equaliser – his 23rd goal of the season.

League One’s player of the month for March had only one thing on his mind as he picked up the ball 25 yards out. But his eighth goal in seven games took a deflection to carry it beyond the diving Doyle.

Portsmouth saw that as a potential launchpad for a comeback win – but instead it was City who shook off that blow to restore their advantage ten minutes later.

Lund had only been the pitch since the equaliser, replacing Bruenker. But any thoughts that switching a striker for a midfielder was a backward step were dismissed as the on-loan Burton man notched City’s second.

Wyke flicked the ball on and the substitute took full advantage of a hesitation between defenders Matt Clarke and Dion Donohue to fire beneath the stranded Luke McGee.

It was Lund’s first goal since Halloween – the same afternoon that his current club had triumphed in Hampshire.

But there was a worrying sight before the end when Tyrell Robinson landed awkwardly in a challenge with Nathan Thompson.

The City winger received lengthy attention before being taken off on a stretcher.

But the hosts were not finished and struck again in the nine minutes of added time for Robinson’s injury.

McMahon’s long-range free-kick proved too hot to handle for McGee and Wyke was on hand to bury the rebound.

CITY: Doyle 7, McMahon 7, Knight-Percival 7, Kilgallon 7, Warnock 7, Gilliead 6, Guy 8 (Vincelot 75min), Dieng 7, Robinson 7 (Poleon 84min), Bruenker 6 (Lund 64min), Wyke 7. Subs (not used): Chicksen, McCartan, Patrick, Raeder.

PORTSMOUTH: McGee 6, Thompson 6, Whatmough 6, Clarke 6, Donohue 5, Ronan 5 (O’Keefe 56min, 5), Lowe 6, Evans 5 (Hawkins 56min, 6), Close 6, Naismith 6 (Chaplin 76min), Pitman 7. Subs (not used): Burgess, May, Haunstrup, Bass.