February 2003: CITY 2 (Jorgensen 62, Forrest 68) IPSWICH 0

SIR Bobby Robson was among the Valley Parade audience for a day that boyhood City fan Danny Forrest will never forget.

Forrest, a good friend of Mark Trueman, can understand the emotions that the interim boss is currently going through as he takes the helm at Valley Parade.

It’s 18 years since the Silsden boss, then just 18, wrote his name in the headlines when he burst on the scene as a rookie striker.

With top scorer Andy Gray suspended, manager Nicky Law turned to the Keighley teenager for his league debut as Ashley Ward’s strike partner against Ipswich.

Forrest, whose only previous experience was a League Cup outing five months earlier at Wrexham, was not the only fresh face in the squad.

Having kicked off the season in administration, times were still very tough for the Bantams.

With the wage bill slashed and injuries biting, Law had no choice but to look to youth.

City’s bench that afternoon summed up his lack of senior options – teenagers Danny Ekoku, Kevin Sanasy and Craig Fishlock, 20-year-old Andy Lee and untried Icelandic goalkeeper Stefan Magnusson on loan from Danish club Farum.

But it was Forrest who would steal the show with an assist and a goal in front of his beloved Kop where he had stood as a supporter.

And it was all in front of former England boss Robson, who took advantage of his own Newcastle side’s postponement to catch up with some old friends at Ipswich.

Not that they were smiling after coming a cropper against a Bantams team digging deep to claim a fifth win in seven games.

It was a hard-earned success even more notable considering Law was also without the defensive know-how of Peter Atherton and the midfield steel provided by Jamie Lawrence.

But his mix-and-match line-up never took a backward step against opponents still brimming with Premiership talent after their relegation.

There was no doubting the home hero, though, as Forrest received a congratulatory pat on the head from Aidan Davison before being smothered up in a bear hug from skipper Robert Molenaar.

The first half had followed a predictable script as Ipswich did all the running.

But Molenaar and Mark Bower led by example at the heart of defence to keep Joe Royle’s men at bay.

Gus Uhlenbeek foiled his old club’s best moment by clearing off the line from Thomas Gaardsoe and Marcus Bent’s snap-shot brushed the outside of the post.

But otherwise, City kept Ipswich under tight control and Forrest could have made a name for himself on the end of a Lewis Emanuel cross but failed to get the proper contact. His moment would come.

Law had felt that if his team could get to half-time unharmed, there was a genuine chance of chasing the victory after the break.

With the first part of that mission accomplished, City willingly went for it – aided by a red card for Herman Hreidarsson.

The big Icelander was sent packing early in the second half after flicking out at Simon Francis and catching him in the face.

City exploited the extra man in his absence but the tone had already been set from the restart with Forrest denied by Hreidarsson’s last legal involvement on the Ipswich line.

Forrest went close twice more after being teed up by Wayne Jacobs and Emanuel while Bower was denied a rare goal by Bent’s block in front of a gaping net.

Step forward Claus Jorgensen to extend a hot scoring run that would continue through the next couple of months.

The popular Dane made it five goals in five successive league games with a bullet finish after Forrest had calmly laid Emanuel’s pass back into his path.

And six minutes later, City were celebrating again – and Forrest had his fairy-tale.

The youngster could have let his head drop after missing several chances to break his duck.

But another superb cross from Jacobs was headed down by Bower and Forrest did the rest before racing to the foot of the Kop to celebrate.

The former Ilkley Grammar School pupil made a beeline for brother Ian, a season-ticket holder, and earned a ticking off from ref Clive Wilkes.

A thrilled Law said: “It was an ideal opportunity for Danny and he made the most of it. I’m really pleased for him.”

CITY: Davison, Uhlenbeek, Molenaar, Bower, Jacobs, Jorgensen, Standing, Francis, Emanuel, Forrest, Ward.

IPSWICH: Marshall, Gaardsoe, Makin, Wilnis (Bent 46), Hreidarsson, Wright, Magilton (Reuser 78), Holland, Miller, Bent, Counago (Ambrose 53).

ATTENDANCE: 12,080.