BANTAMS NOSTALGIA: When Wyke treble troubled Bristol Rovers

RECENT history is very much on City’s side when Bristol Rovers head for West Yorkshire this weekend.

There hasn’t been an away winner in the last 11 meetings between the sides since Rovers triumphed 3-2 at Valley Parade in 1995.

In their five visits to BD8 since, three have been drawn with two City victories – and they are the ones we focus on in this week’s nostalgia feature.

Both were significant results – one providing real impetus in a play-off push that would lead to promotion; the other a personal milestone in front of the live TV cameras.

Eight years ago, a handsome midweek win over Bristol Rovers powered Phil Parkinson’s Bantams into a top-seven position that they would never relinquish.

It had been three months since City had last been in the play-off zone as the massive distraction of reaching Wembley in the Capital One Cup took an inevitable toll.

But they announced their intentions with a 4-1 thumping of a Rovers side who had been League Two’s form team.

Nahki Wells hit the bar inside the opening 17 seconds as City began at blistering pace – and was celebrating after six minutes when he headed in Garry Thompson’s cross.

The Bermudian soon doubled his tally from the penalty spot after Ricky Ravenhill was tripped.

City then rounded off a thrilling first half with a third right on the break through Andrew Davies.

Tom Hitchcock pulled one back soon after the restart but any faint hopes of a Rovers revival were quickly quashed when Wells sent Thompson through to put the result beyond any doubt.

Thirty-nine days later, the Bantams would deliver another three-goal salvo before half-time against Northampton to ensure promotion at Wembley.

Fast forward to September 2017 and City were still trying to shake off the hangover of play-off agony after that late loss to Millwall.

Stuart McCall’s side, now minus several of the big hitters from that team, were also looking to bounce back from a first home defeat in the league in over a year.

That setback to Blackburn in their previous Valley Parade outing was followed by City blowing a three-goal lead to only draw at Walsall.

The presence of the TV cameras for the clash with Bristol Rovers only added to the pressure.

Sky had published a graphic before the game showing that City’s summer exodus had cost them players with over 1,000 appearances for the club.

But at least McCall could name his first-choice 11 from the rebuilt squad as skipper Romain Vincelot and the masked Adam Chicksen, who had shattered his cheekbone on opening day, were fit to return.

Charlie Wyke risks colliding with the post to head his hat-trick goal past Sam Slocombe

Charlie Wyke was among those with a point to prove to the doubters.

He had not scored since Bury in early April and quiet performances during the play-offs and at Wembley had earned criticism.

Injury in pre-season had hampered preparations and he was still coming up to speed. But this was an emphatic way to roar from nought to 60.

It also helped that Rovers had their first-choice central defenders absent on international duty as Wyke gave the understudies a torrid time. Jonathan Burn was caught out for all three goals.

City sensed joy against the visiting “soft centre” from the start and Vincelot was close with an early header that many in the crowd thought had gone in.

But the opening goal soon followed. Vincelot again jumped well to meet Tony McMahon’s set-piece and Wyke evaded Burn to volley home unmarked.

Rovers almost sneaked an equaliser against the run of play when Colin Doyle was caught out by Lee Brown’s deep cross.

Nathaniel Knight-Percival rescued his keeper with an excellent block on the line with his right knee to keep out Byron Moore as Doyle scrambled to recover.

Knight-Percival then played a part at the other end as City doubled their lead. His block on the unfortunate Burn gave Wyke enough of a head-start to convert McMahon’s corner with a booming header.

McMahon was again involved in the build-up for Wyke’s hat-trick goal. His cross-field pass picked out the run of Jake Reeves, who did very well to hook the ball across in full flight.

Wyke, with Burn again struggling in his wake, risked a collision with the far post as he nodded it home and sent the place into raptures.

Billy Bodin claimed a late reply but it had no impact on the result or spoil Wyke’s celebrations.

The win began a run of six in eight games that would cement City into the League One play-off spots – until the rot set in at the turn of the year.

Wyke would finish the season comfortably top scorer with 16 goals but managed only three after McCall was sacked.

CITY: Doyle, McMahon, Knight-Percival, Kilgallon, Chicksen, Gilliead, Reeves, Vincelot, Law, Poleon (Patrick 72), Wyke (Jones 77).

BRISTOL ROVERS: Slocombe, Leadbitter, Burn, Broadbent, Brown, Sercombe, Clarke, Lines, Bodin, Harrison (Gaffney 72), Moore (Nichols 58).

REFEREE: David Webb

ATTENDANCE: 19,284