West Brom 0, Bradford city 2; Richard Sutcliffe at The Hawthorns.

When Bradford City made Lee Mills their then club record signing on the eve of the new season, several pundits seemed to question the £1 million transfer fee.

Here was a striker who had scored 44 goals in less than 100 games for a Port Vale side who often struggled in the lower half of the First Division and yet eyebrows were still raised when Paul Jewell splashed out on the 28-year-old.

However Mills has not allowed this negativity to bother him and in the first six weeks of his career at Valley Parade he has fully justified the club's huge outlay. Not only does he link up well with the midfield on the floor, but he also gives City something they have lacked for a number of years - a striker consistently capable of winning the ball in the air.

His three goals before yesterday had all come with his head but against West Brom he illustrated just how impressive he can be on the floor as well.

Mills' first goal in the third minute may have had an element of fortune about it when the City striker's shot spun in off the post following some great work by Isaiah Rankin.

However there could be no such accusations about his second in the 15th minute as the strike was right out of the top drawer.

Matthew Carbon's header fell into the City man's path 40 yards from goal and Mills showed great pace and determination to get in front of Albion central defender Paul Raven.

After running on into the penalty area, Mills not only managed to keep Raven at bay while evading both Carbon and Andy McDermott, but he also showed great presence to drill a left foot shot into the corner of the net.

It was a fantastic effort and a just reward for City's scintillating football in those opening 15 minutes.

Paul Jewell opted for a formation which saw Robbie Blake on the left and Peter Beagrie on the right with both players given licence to roam forward providing they were in position when Albion won possession. And the tactic worked to perfection.

In the centre of the field, Gareth Whalley and Stuart McCall worked in tandem with some delightful inter-passing.

Whalley, in particular, was far too good for his Albion counterparts with the most pleasing aspect of his play again being his willingness to find space after finding a team-mate with a pass rather than standing still admiring his own work.

City's play in the opening 45 minutes was probably their best of the season so far and shows just how much potential for success the club has at the moment.

Albion, who were sixth before the weekend, were simply chasing shadows in the first half with City having seven efforts on target which on another day could all have resulted in a goal. In contrast, Albion could muster just one - a lame effort from the disappointing Fabian De Freitas.

Otherwise, the Albion attack which boasts the second best scoring record in the First Division was kept well in check by City's defence.

The loss of John Dreyer through illness was overcome with Andy O'Brien returning to form in the centre while full backs Wayne Jacobs and Stephen Wright stuck to their task well.

It was a great team effort which was rewarded by City's first clean sheet of the season in the league although special praise must be reserved for Darren Moore.

The big defender was simply sensational, winning everything in the air and clearing the ball on the floor whenever necessary.

In fact, Lee Hughes apart, the rest of the Albion side seemed to be intimidated by Moore's huge frame and as a result the home side rarely threatened City's two goal lead.

The victory should serve as a huge boost to City's season and Paul Jewell will be hoping his side can maintain this form in the coming weeks and bring about a sharp rise up the First Division table.

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