Ten-man Bantams grind out priceless result that restores self-belief

Ideally, it would be a case of both. But anyone who says the first is a liar.

City have served up some exciting stuff already this season. Witness the belting clash against Crewe a fortnight ago – an absolute treat for any neutral.

But losing teams aren’t going to get clapped off so enthusiastically every time by the fans.

All that really matters, as gauged by Stuart McCall’s reaction from Saturday’s hard-fought victory, is getting the right result.

Back-to-back defeats is hardly the cue for free-fall but given the way last season slid away so unexpectedly from a position of strength in the spring, City fans are understandably twitchy.

Another setback against Hereford, no matter how well City might have played, and a few alarm bells would have begun to clang.

In football terms, Saturday may have been a pale imitation of the previous home game but the final scoreline was priceless for all concerned.

McCall certainly knew it once his side had survived a tricky final ten minutes after Lee Bullock was sent packing. “That was a big, big win for us,” said the City boss. “If we’d dropped a couple more points after being 1-0 up, the belief would have started dripping out of the supporters.

“We always aim to go out and try to score lots of goals and be positive but the bottom line was three points to keep us cracking on.

“We created far, far more chances against Crewe and came away with nothing but when you’re not winning games the pressure can build each week.”

Hereford, let’s face it, were strictly average despite a five-match unbeaten run against all the top sides. But City’s inability to dig up a second goal, despite their control on proceedings, kept the visitors interested.

And given the worrying tendency to let late leads slip, there were plenty of anxious faces before referee Colin Webster’s whistle ensured the agony was over.

That was the only time Webster endeared himself to the Valley Parade faithful. He won few friends – except for Hereford’s Kenny Lunt – by giving Bullock his marching orders.

The improving midfielder had enjoyed the freedom of the park for most of the afternoon, with Hereford allowing him space and time to spray the ball around.

But Bullock already had one black mark to his name for an instinctive handball after 15 minutes. He tried to “Maradona” Steve Williams’ header past keeper Adam Bartlett and Webster was having none of it.

It seemed a harsh card at the time, though Bullock had no complaints afterwards, but the real bone of contention was the follow-up booking for his challenge on Lunt in the centre circle.

It was a bog-standard foul but nothing more, and nobody thought much about it. That was until Lunt carried on his protests in front of the referee, who then checked back and reached for his pocket.

In terms of punishment for Bullock, the second yellow means nothing. He was already sitting out next week’s trip to Macclesfield after his first offence triggered an automatic one-game ban for reaching five bookings for the season.

But it left City with an uncomfortable finale of a game they should have put to bed long before.

A team brighter than Hereford might have made them pay. Instead, despite the odd squeak or two, City saw it through for their first win and clean sheet in October.

Any fears of a hangover from successive losses had been dispelled by their bright approach to the first half.

The pitch wasn’t easy after the heavy rain and play was often very narrow, with only Scott Neilson really using the flanks to the full extent. But City moved the ball about briskly, with the recalled Chris Brandon an effective go-between from the midfield to attack.

Hereford, clearly interested in a point, succeeded in keeping City at arm’s length. Most of the home shots were limited to outside the box, and while James Hanson was once again dominating every header, the second ball rarely fell to a claret shirt.

Brandon, Gareth Evans and, inevitably, Michael Flynn all had pot-shots but the closest City came to anything was a concerted shout for handball against Ryan Green that was waved away.

They needed something to break in their favour – and it did four minutes before the break.

Brandon’s corner, City’s fifth of the half, came to Flynn, who smacked it hard and low against Bartlett’s right upright. For once, the ball bounced kindly for the Bantams as the rebound fell right into the path of Evans to dig out from under his feet and roll home from six yards.

A scrappy goal but a crucial one and no more than City’s control had warranted.

The second period began in the same manner. Brandon forced an early save and then Evans should have done better after Bullock had picked him out in plenty of space.

Simon Eastwood, enjoying a much easier ride than at Dagenham, had only one split-second of discomfort when Bullock sliced an intended clearance towards his own goal. Twice City had the ball in the Hereford net. Twice, to the derision of the crowd, the offside flag went up.

Both calls may have been correct but did the assistant really need to take so long to raise his arm?

Evans, Flynn and substitute James O’Brien had further chances before Hanson missed the best of them from Jon Bateson’s inviting cross. His header was well tipped over by Bartlett but a yard either side of the keeper and it was a sure-fire goal.

McCall felt Hereford’s heads were ready to drop with a second strike. Instead, as he put it, they were galvanised by City’s failure to find that decisive blow.

The visitors threw caution to the wind as John Trewick threw on two fresh strikers to replace the anonymous front pair.

Gambia international Ed Sonko was a particularly lively addition and it needed a well-timed block from Steve Williams to keep one raid in check.

Bullock’s departure livened things up, especially when Hereford left back Ryan Valentine – also walking a yellow-card tightrope – escaped similar censor for crashing into Flynn.

Valley Parade held its breath as Mark Marshall’s fizzing cross was only partially parried by Eastwood but Luke O’Brien was on to the loose ball before Sonko and three faith-restoring points were secure.