CITY 4 WALSALL 0

THE tune that swelled around Valley Parade was a familiar one but the lyrics had been changed.

A month or so ago, the narrative would have been “we want Edin out”.

On Saturday, the gusty chorus boomed the straightforward message that “we are staying up.”

The positive switch from off-field politics to the on-field battle to remain in League One continues to ramp up.

“We’ve got our City back” sung the fans who forgot the freezing cold and pouring rain to wallow in the most emphatic victory in over two years.

Stefan Rupp certainly chose the perfect moment to make his Valley Parade debut for the season.

The club’s sole owner had not been seen at a game since Walsall’s last visit in May, a meaningless draw that coincided with his speaking duties at the player-of-the-year awards evening.

Within a week of reassuring that audience that lessons had been learned, Simon Grayson had politely but firmly declined the two-year contract on the table and the post-season turmoil was off and running.

Seven months on, Rupp was back in situ for City’s first home league outing since he had pulled the trigger on Edin Rahic’s football fantasy.

The aftermath of that reign will be felt for some time – not least in Rupp’s pocket, as he comes to terms with the financial black holes that the former chairman left in his wake.

But afternoons like Saturday will have reminded him there’s a human side to the balance sheets.

Rupp may be happy to resume a backseat away from the public eye – and he deliberately steered clear of the directors’ box - but it was clear he relished the game as much as any fan.

The German’s dance moves after each goal are unlikely to earn him a call for the next edition of Strictly but the jigging for joy demonstrated that the emotional attachment is still strong.

City should be very grateful for that in the absence for now of any credible offers to step in and take up the slack.

“He can come every week,” grinned boss David Hopkin. “It was fantastic for him because he’s been a credit to the club for what he’s done.

“Stefan knows now that we are all pushing and he heard the Bradford fans in good voice. It’s all positive and that’s so important.

“It’s about everybody. We need to stick together and keep going and make sure no player or member of staff starts slacking off because we’ve won one game.

“We’re going to have to push right until May to make sure we’re away from where we are.”

Ending City’s 53-day stay at the foot of League One was a timely winter warmer on a wretched afternoon when brass monkeys would have stayed hidden under the duvet.

By next Saturday tea-time, Hopkin’s rejuvenated side could even be out of the bottom four altogether by increasing Stuart McCall’s Scunthorpe discomfort on his Valley Parade return.

But the big test for Rupp in many eyes will be what follows.

The last mid-season transfer window and its false promises of backing McCall’s play-off push is now viewed as the turning point in Rahic’s relationship with the club. It went downhill fast from that moment.

With Rahic out of the picture, Rupp’s input will be the January focus. Will Hopkin get the backing that he needs to maintain the current momentum?

The Bantams boss has been busy laying the ground work for a few fresh faces although he is not planning a major overhaul.

But some will inevitably leave as he looks to shed those now firmly out the picture.

The unanswered question, of course, is the future of those loan players coming to the forefront right now.

Rupp could probably claim the freedom of the city if he came up with a big-bucks offer to land Lewis O’Brien permanently.

Sadly, that seems a pipe dream, given that Huddersfield gave the youngster an extended deal in May which ties him down until 2021.

But the impetus of O’Brien and his fellow Terrier Jack Payne in City’s survival fight cannot be underestimated.

O’Brien was the stand-out performer in the dark days earlier in the season, the one always willing to get on the ball and try things when others around him were happier to shrink into the shadows.

Now, with the team around him playing with a new-found zest, he has stepped up again and found another gear.

O’Brien’s display against Walsall in such foul conditions was a joy to watch.

He ran, he chased, he dribbled, he created – a fabulous never-say-die attitude summed up by the moment when he tackled a Walsall defender to still win the corner despite falling to the floor.

All that was missing from his repertoire was a goal as Liam Roberts denied him with a sharp early save.

But O’Brien would wreak his revenge with a hand in two of City’s foursome.

It was his tricky run which set up Paul Caddis for a thumping opener 10 minutes before half-time.

At that stage, it was still anyone’s contest – Andy Cook had missed two gilt-edged headers for the Saddlers by the break.

The other worry was whether referee Ben Toner might be tempted to pull the plug after a nearby power cut in BD5 had the floodlights flickering.

But fortunately, there was no dimming City’s brightest result to date as the second half belonged to the hosts.

O’Brien and Payne were at its hub and the duo were involved in both David Ball goals that put the contest firmly out of Walsall’s reach.

Payne created panic in the Walsall box with his twisting and turning and Ball pounced with a deflected shot into the bottom corner.

As Valley Parade bounced, it was O’Brien’s turn to set up number three with a testing cross that Roberts could only ferry into Ball’s deadly direction.

The previously-unemployed Richard O’Donnell produced a brilliant block to deny Cook again and protect only a second clean sheet in 17 attempts.

And City rounded off a great day at the office when Eoin Doyle came off the bench to score for the first time in 13 games following bright work from Kelvin Mellor.

The wind of change continues to blow strong.