Dean Windass emphatically buried City's cup hoodoo with a hat-trick and then insisted: Making the next round means more than the goals.

The Bantams romped to a 5-0 win at League Two side Rochdale in the Carling Cup last night to end a run of nine straight losses in knock-out competitions stretching four years.

Windass led the way with a treble to take his goal tally for the new campaign to seven from just five games.

But the red-hot marksman said: "I'm delighted more than anything that we've got through. I've never been a selfish person and I'm more pleased for the lads than myself because this has been hanging over us.

"People kept going on about our cup record but now we're in the hat after a good win and can focus again on the league. We've done well so far and hopefully this will help us kick on for the two games over the weekend.

"The whole shape of the team was good and my three goals came from three great balls.

"At the moment I feel that every time I go on the pitch I'm going to score. I remember the same thing happening at Aberdeen once when Billy Dodds and I were scoring goals left, right and centre and it's a great feeling to have. The good thing is that I know I'll get goals. The fans and players expect me to but I thrive on that and love to deliver."

Danny Cadamarteri, on his first start since rejoining City, and Marc Bridge-Wilkinson completed the rout.

It was City's biggest cup away win since 1987 when they hammered Aston Villa 5-0 in the Simod Cup.

Boss Colin Todd said: "The performance speaks for itself. We knew it could have been a banana skin but we are a good side and showed that.

"Right through the side we set our stall out and showed that we weren't going to be found wanting.

"Windass led the line well, I was pleased that Cadamarteri got on the scoresheet and our set-plays were very good. We were very positive in our play throughout the game.

"In the past this club has never been in the hat but we've got away from that hoodoo, although this was away from home."