CITY 2 SOUTHEND 0

WELL, well, well! City are knocking on the play-off door once again in the midst of a wonderful week.

The buzzing Bantams showed that Saturday’s demolition of Peterborough was no glorious one-off as they followed it up with a second convincing win over another promotion contender.

In doing so, Phil Parkinson’s men claimed back-to-back victories for the first time since November and cut the gap to sixth-placed Millwall to three points – with a game in hand.

On a night full of positives, Tony McMahon provided further evidence to nail the argument that he is a defender playing in midfield.

He broke the deadlock with a superbly-executed free-kick and then delivered the corner for the second. It was his ninth league assist – only two players in the division have provided more.

James Hanson’s second-half header in his 301st appearance took his overall tally to 84 – just two behind third-placed Dean Windass in the all-time list.

Phil Brown marked his 150th game as Southend boss at the ground where his reign had begun three seasons ago. It was a miserable milestone.

That 2-2 draw in 2013 appeared to help neither side in their promotion ambitions – but turned out to be the spark that launched City’s late charge to Wembley.

Like that last encounter, both teams went into last night’s game looking to make up ground on the play-off pack.

Phil Parkinson made only one change from the team that had won so impressively at Peterborough. Nathan Clarke came in for expectant dad Rory McArdle, who was missing only his second game of the season to be at the bedside of wife Elizabeth for the birth of their first child.

McArdle, the current player of the season, has been undoubtedly the most consistent performer once again.

But the effect of his absence was minimised by Clarke’s solid recent form when he has stepped in for Reece Burke. He had been unlucky to lose his place for Burke’s return on Saturday.

Southend included one of City’s promotion heroes Will Atkinson, returning to Valley Parade for the first time since being released that summer.

Atkinson got a good reception from the fans – it probably helped that he made little impact on proceedings.

The visitors had the night’s first shot in anger after 16 minutes – and it needed an alert save from Ben Williams to tip over Noel Hunt’s half-volley.

But City responded a minute later in some style.

Wes Thomas was pulled down by Cian Bolger five yards outside the Southend penalty area. Up stepped McMahon to whip the free-kick over the three blue shirts in the wall and past the despairing dive of Daniel Bentley.

It was a perfectly-placed effort right in the corner as McMahon notched his fifth goal of the season – and by far the pick of the bunch.

That lifted the place and the home side who started to demonstrate the confidence gained from the weekend’s crushing victory.

Southend, on the other hand, had to rethink their game-plan after setting up clearly with a point in mind.

The Hanson and Thomas partnership had shown signs of early promise at Peterborough when the Birmingham loan man made his first start.

And another good link-up between the pair almost resulted in a second goal eight minutes before the break.

Southend made hard work of clearing Lee Evans’ throw-in, Hanson headed it back into the mix where Thomas laid it back to him inside the box for a fierce drive that flew narrowly over the bar.

Parkinson had warned his strikers before the game that they could not afford to take their foot off the pedal with the competition on the bench. They had clearly taken the manager’s words to heart.

Thomas almost got on the end of McMahon’s teasing cross before Clarke headed over from the midfielder’s corner. City were good value for their lead at the break.

Thomas began the second half in the same positive vein and Bolger, not having the best of nights up to that point, blocked his shot behind.

Southend countered after Hanson’s loose pass was picked up by Anthony Wordsworth. He set up Stephen McLaughlin whose cross-shot flew over the angle of the goal – the first hint of a threat to Williams since the early Hunt chance.

Opposite number Bentley then had to be on his toes to deal with an Evans free-kick that flew through a crowd of players before the keeper could turn it away.

The home fans were appreciating City’s approach as the home side continued on the front foot.

Thomas, who had again posed a threat, made way just after the hour with “super sub” Steve Davies entering the fray.

But there was a moment of panic at the other end when Williams didn’t come for a loose ball and just managed to take the ball off Hunt’s toe in the nick of time.

With the game becoming more open, City were still hunting the security of a second goal and nearly had it 20 minutes from time.

Kyel Reid’s deep cross picked out McMahon whose volley on the stretch forced a good block from Bentley. The keeper then clutched Hanson’s header from the resulting corner.

But City were turning up the heat and got their reward in the 74th minute from another McMahon corner.

Hanson crashed the header against the underside of the bar and Bentley’s frantic efforts to cling on could only fumble the ball over the line.

Technically it could go down as an own goal for the Southend stopper but nobody was going to deny Hanson his third of the week.

More importantly, it removed any fears of a Southend sucker-punch on a night when City had once again showed they were up for the scrap of reeling in that elusive final play-off spot.

The Bantams still threatened more. Evans, enjoying the chance to get forward more with the presence of the tidy Josh Cullen behind him, saw one effort deflected away and Bentley denied Davies a third in as many outings from the bench.

Williams protected his latest clean sheet with a good save from Wordsworth’s free-kick but City finished proceedings with the momentum behind them. Smiles are back on Valley Parade faces.

CITY: Williams 7, Darby 7, N Clarke 8, Burke 7, Meredith 7, McMahon 8 (Knott 90min), Evans 8, Cullen 7, Reid 7 (Marshall 90min), Thomas 7 (Davies 64min), Hanson 7. Subs (not used): B Clarke, Leigh, Routis, Cracknell.

SOUTHEND: Bentley 7, O’Neill 6, Bolger 5, Barrett 6, Coker 5, Wordsworth 6, Timlin 5, Atkinson 5 (Worrall 72min), Deegan 6 (Loza 67min), McLaughlin 5 (McQueen 60min, 5), Hunt 5. Subs (not used): Thompson, Mooney, Payne, Smith.

REFEREE: Ross Joyce (Middlesbrough)

BOOKINGS: Darby (City); Timlin, O’Neill (Southend)

ATTENDANCE: 17,701

Shots on target: City 4, Southend 2

Shots off target: City 10, Southend 1

Corners: City 7, Southend 4

Fouls committed: City 10, Southend 9