Bradford City 1

Barnsley 0

As the old saying goes, if at first you don't succeed try again. And again. And again.

It wasn't so much a case of second or third time lucky for Dean Windass on Saturday. More like sixth or seventh.

Deano, City's top scorer, had gone the whole of September without a goal after beginning the season with a bang.

But the team still had total faith. Before the game, assistant manager Bobby Davison assured him: "If you get three or four chances a game, you'll score two or three goals."

By half-time, his tune had changed. "You've had five already and haven't stuck one away," as Windass held up his hands to the dressing room for scorning such gilt-edged opportunities.

Those included a free header over the bar and an amazing tap wide from less than six yards out.

But such was City's grip of the match, more were sure to come in the second half.

Windass saw another header kept out by a stunning save from Nick Colgan but Bobby Hassell handled after the excellent Wayne Jacobs seized on the loose ball. Up stepped Windass for the penalty - only for Colgan to save again.

But an eagle-eyed assistant referee spotted Colgan was off his line and had moved before the kick was taken. Windass had no doubts about taking it again after a chat with David Wetherall and this time blasted the ball home. He had scored at last.

"It was unbelievable. In 15 years of playing I've never had that many chances in a game," said the striker with massive relief.

"Even their centre half said the ball was like a magnet to me. But I thought it was going to be just one of those days.

"It wasn't a problem taking the penalty again. I'd have rather missed the second time round than let somebody else take it.

"It wouldn't have been Dean Windass if I'd walked away from the responsibility."

Colin Todd knew Windass would come good in the end - even if it did take much longer than expected.

He said: "Deano missed two bad ones in the first half but I believe that if you keep producing, strikers will get goals and that's his forte."

Windass may have ditched the golden boots, though he is still feeling the effects in his Achilles from wearing new footwear, but he clearly still has the golden something.

But this was far from a one-man assault on a Barnsley side that boss Paul Hart aptly summed up with one word: Absymal.

City were on top in every department, even more so than when they stuck four past Bristol City a fortnight earlier. The Bantams were back up to strength after the LDV Vans Trophy nonsense and looked a different team in more ways than one.

Barnsley operated in a diamond formation which meant they were too narrow. City got the ball wide at every opportunity where Nicky Summerbee, Ben Muirhead and both full backs enjoyed a field day.

When was the last time you saw Jacobs flicking the ball over the opposing full back's head and volleying in a pinpoint centre for Windass to attack?

Summerbee relished the freedom given by Barnsley's non-existent midfield and after some petulant early exchanges with left back Tom Williams, once again provided a regular supply line to the front two.

Windass owed a huge debt to the non-stop running and quick-thinking of his strike mate Neil Roberts who ran the black shirts ragged.

It was his clever flick round the corner which set up Windass for the first of many sights of goal after just four minutes. Colgan beat his shot out as Steve Schumacher sniffed for the rebound.

But City had set the tempo and Jacobs waltzed his way around Antony Kay only to see Windass put the header in the TL Dallas Stand.

Williams stopped whingeing for once to nick the ball off Summerbee's toe by the foot of the post and the winger delivered a tasty cross which Windass put wide with a diving header. It was no surprise that Hart was doing his nut on the sidelines.

The biggest miss of the lot came from another Summerbee pass which laid a goal on a plate. Windass, though, failed to make proper contact and scuffed wide from right under the posts.

Barnsley offered nothing on the break with only the hard-working Barry Conlon any real danger to a back four effectively operating in cruise control.

But there was always that niggling doubt that the visitors might suddenly snatch a smash and grab raid and make City pay for their profligacy in front of goal.

Hassell clipped the ball from Muirhead as he prepared to pull the trigger and when Colgan somehow kept out the far-post nodder from Windass, that worry remained.

But Lady Luck was smiling on the Bantams and one man in particular. His finishing proved spot-on in the end.

Paul Henderson protected the lead with his one proper save from ex-Leeds midfielder Steve McPhail but City still threatened more.

Windass left to a standing ovation and his replacement Dele Adebola nearly had a second when Schumacher slid a precise pass into the danger zone.