City 4 Rochdale 0

IT WAS the run that put the seal on a special afternoon for City.

Mark Marshall had made his fair share of sprints but this one meant more than most.

Forget Billy Clarke's belly dive, another idea suggested by his son in the car, the stand-out celebration was seeing Marshall cross the pitch to savour his goal with Stuart McCall and Kenny Black.

The winger had just cheekily gazumped Clarke for free-kick duty and made it four with his supposedly weaker left foot – later claiming he'd been practising with it in training.

But then everything that City had worked on during the week seemed to click into place. No wonder Marshall's first reaction was to head over to the management.

McCall had sensed the vibe among the group and spoke of the players lifting his mood with their efforts at Apperley Bridge. Here was proof that practice makes pretty much perfect.

Watching football at Valley Parade is a total joy on days like Saturday. The biggest league crowd in England certainly thought so.

There is an increasing feel of the Bundesliga about BD8 as the Edin Rahic and Stefan Rupp influence grows on and off the pitch.

The high-pressing, attack-minded football plays to a backdrop that would not look out of place on the continent; flags flying in the Kop courtesy of the K Block bantams, music blaring with each goal.

And on Saturday we had the player introductions German-style.

Announcer Tom Milner telling the crowd "I say Rouven, you say Sattelmaier" was greeted with squirming embarrassment at first and the general opinion that no way would it catch on.

But the same was said about the Claret and Amber song that began as a joke in the pre-season of 2012 and would end up blaring out across Wembley ten months later as City cavorted in play-off celebration.

There is a point when something so apparently cringe-worthy can suddenly gain cult status, especially if the team continue to go well. You have been warned!

The idea of Clarke and James Hanson operating up front together is viewed in some quarters with the same disdain. The pre-match messages on social media had not been hopeful.

But Hanson and Clarke can work, when they play like this.

If Clarke looks to drop deep on occasions, there are other willing runners from midfield to prevent Hanson being isolated up top. Nicky Law, Josh Cullen and Timothee Dieng were always on hand when needed.

But McCall has also been on Clarke's case to make sure he is in the box when the crosses come in. It's no good loitering on the periphery in a role where you will be judged on goals.

The Irishman duly made it six in 15 starts this season with a well-taken finish after Law's drilled cross had been missed by Hanson. He dispatched it in the bottom corner with his 'wrong' foot – it was a game for that.

It was the first of City's four in the space of just 22 minutes straddling half-time, a spell that also included a Rochdale red card that completely killed off their challenge.

The first half hour or so had actually been fairly even. After their team's bright start, the noisy away fans were singing "this is the best trip we've ever been on". You sure about that lads?

Steve Davies brought a fine save from stand-in stopper Sattelmaier, although an offside flag would have ruled it out anyway.

But apart from a looping header straight into the German's gloves and another which hit his own man in front of goal, they were the sum of the former City striker's attempts to bite the hand that fed him last season.

City started to wind up the pace as the half wore on. Law surged and Cullen, having successfully haggled with Republic of Ireland under-21s to stay behind and play, probed with every pass.

The young West Ham loanee bounced back from his surprisingly poor game at Wimbledon to boss central midfield in his usual fashion.

Behind him, Romain Vincelot and the ultra-calm Nathaniel Knight-Percival went about defensive duties with the minimum of fuss and both made themselves time to carry the ball upfield.

With James Meredith a welcome sight again in his full back/winger role, the back four gave Sattelmaier the most straightforward of league debuts as the action camped at the other end.

City shouted with some justification for a penalty when Hanson appeared to be bundled over by Joe Rafferty.

But the sense of injustice quickly disappeared with Clarke's strike three minutes later – and within four minutes, Valley Parade rocked to the goal music once more.

This time Clarke was the provider, getting the ball back from his corner and delivering a peach of a cross for Dieng to glance past keeper Josh Lillis.

Suddenly half-time could not come quick enough for the shaken visitors.

City have had a tendency on occasions to come back out a bit sluggish – but not this time.

They remained on full throttle while Dale headed for self-destruct after centre half Niall Canavan, already on a booking, was lured into a poor lunge by Cullen's run.

The punishment for the ten men was instant. Marshall swung the free-kick into the six-yard box, where Hanson stabbed home the rebound after Lillis had partially blocked his header.

Three swiftly became four with the sight of Marshall over-ruling Clarke's natural left foot to bend a shot over the Rochdale wall with the keeper motionless.

There was still a quarter of the game to go as the new £150,000 scoreboard braced itself to top up the tally.

City should have reached five for the first time in four years but Hanson could not get the ball out from under his feet from close range and substitute Jordy Hiwula, unlucky not to start after his recent scoring run, was denied a third in as many league games by a block in front the line.

But the newly-unveiled scoreboard, finally replacing its predecessor of almost 30 years, had been kept busy enough on its first official outing.

City's biggest win of the season had been worth the wait. I say "that's", you say "entertainment".

Attendance: 18,205