The impact football has on people's lives has been vividly illustrated in Bradford over the past few days.

City produced the perfect retort to their critics with a comprehensive victory over high-flying Leicester which moved them out of the bottom three in the Premiership.

It was a very timely boost for City because it meant the end of their unwanted record of being the only top-flight club without a home victory this season.

One of the most frequent comments heard when leaving the ground on Saturday was: "It's good to see some smiles back at Valley Parade at long last!"

The afterglow of a victory over a side who started the day in fifth position after three successive wins has continued, and the mood among City fans I have spoken to this week has changed markedly.

The Bantams had already won two Premiership games before last weekend, but the one-goal triumphs at Middlesbrough and Derby were earned on the back of some dogged defending and sheer hard work.

The 3-1 win over Leicester was a huge contrast because City swept aside a formidable side with a refreshing brand of attacking football.

City chairman Geoffrey Richmond revealed in last week's Telegraph & Argus how fans who he described as "extremists" had been writing to urge him to sack Paul Jewell.

Some of City's performances had been disappointing, with the forwards often being left marooned by a midfield, who were too deep to exert any pressure.

However, for some fans to be calling for the manager's head was, in my view, ridiculous. The fact of the matter is that City are in a league alongside some of the biggest clubs in Europe.

Even the likes of Southampton, Wimbledon and Coventry have had so many years in the top flight that the money which floods into the big clubs has left their finances in a healthy shape. City, by comparison, are at this stage a small fish in a big pond, and it is worth remembering that they finished sixth in Division Two in 1995-1996.

The common perception is that City have failed to adapt to the top flight while Watford and Sunderland have done well. However, despite wins over Chelsea and Liverpool, the league table shows Watford are now two points behind City.

The progress the club has made since beating Notts County at Wembley has been amazing, with last season's promotion under Jewell the biggest achievement in City's history. An FA Cup victory 88 years ago does not compare.

There are enough people outside West Yorkshire forecasting an embarrassing relegation for the Bantams without people within Bradford doing the same. And this brings me neatly on to the topic of Rodney Marsh. Just what is this man's problem?

Ever since City were promoted last May, we have all heard a seemingly unending supply of gags from rival supporters about how the club will struggle.

However, the former QPR and Manchester City maverick has taken this to a whole new level which his cheap digs at the Bantams' expense.

The recent explosion in television coverage that football has enjoyed has seen the rise of the former player as an 'expert summariser'. Getting the insight of many of these stars has brought an extra dimension to watching the game at home.

The likes of Andy Gray, Alan Hansen and former City boss Chris Kamara have all adapted to the role superbly with their incisive comments adding enjoyment.

However, for every Gray and Hansen there is a Marsh and George Best, who were great players but add nothing of any merit to shows such as 'Soccer Saturday' on Sky Sports.

Marsh seems to think that cheap 'gags' about there being three leagues within the Premiership for 19 clubs with City - labelled 'no-hopers' - marooned on their own in a fourth at the bottom.

The best thing City and their fans can do is stick together and shove the taunts from the likes of Marsh firmly back down his throat.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.