CITY 4 STEVENAGE 1

STEVENAGE cannot say they hadn’t been warned at Valley Parade last night.

Derek Adams had mentioned that somebody was going to suffer sooner rather than later after all the chances that had gone begging in the opening matches.

But who would have thought it would be a team that had kept nine clean sheets from their previous 10 away games going back to last season?

Or that Andy Cook would help himself to a 38-minute hat-trick – the first City first-half treble since Dean Windass against Derby in the first Premier League year?

It was the perfect hat-trick as well with goals with both feet and his head.

And pretty much a perfect night for the Bantams as they kicked up a gear to start the season with back-to-back home wins for the first time since 2013.

City played like a team enjoying the chance to strut their stuff at Valley Parade – and how the crowd responded to that.

This was as dominant a performance as the fans had witnessed in a long, long time.

Yann Songo’o was finally available for City after recovering from the knee injury that had kept him out for almost a month.

But Adams had the luxury of leaving his former Morecambe “destroyer”, to quote the manager, until the 90th minute to come on as Cook exited centre stage to a richly-earned standing ovation from all corners.

The only change from the 11 that just got over the line against Oldham had seen Charles Vernam rewarded with a first start after some lively cameos.

Vernam replaced Gareth Evans – and produced a terrific, go-forward display that summed up the positivity that oozed through City’s play.

Adams had spoken highly before the game about opposite number Alex Revell and the Stevenage boss had challenged his players to “embrace” the occasion and perform without fear. They never got the chance.

The Hertfordshire side were enjoying their best start as a league team – buoyed by that amazing run on the road stretching back to March.

But City blew a hole in that record from the first attack of the night to set the tone.

Vernam fed the overlapping Liam Ridehalgh, who held up a cross to the back post where Cook’s powerful finish left West Ham loanee Joseph Anang rooted to the spot.

It was the ideal way to feed off the energy from the weekend’s dramatic finale and the crowd were in full voice.

Luke Norris put a responding header straight into Richard O’Donnell’s arms but City had the bit between their teeth and Lee Angol looked to add to his Oldham double with a shot into the side-netting.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Niall Canavan puts the lid on City's win with the fourth goalNiall Canavan puts the lid on City's win with the fourth goal (Image: Thomas Gadd.)

So, it came as a real shock when the visitors suddenly levelled on 17 minutes, Elliot List firing past O’Donnell from a Norris knockdown after City struggled to clear their lines.

It felt as if someone had pressed the mute button as the mood fell instantly flat – bar the small knot of 101 travelling fans.

As City looked to pick things back up, Alex Gilliead whizzed a shot across goal and Cook blazed over from the edge of the box.

Stevenage countered menacingly as Charlie Carter played in List for a low effort smothered by O’Donnell.

But Vernam continued to drive City forward and earned them a second penalty in three days when his legs were taken from under him by right back Luther James-Wildin.

Angol again stepped up to take but his Oldham luck ran out this time as Anang plunged low to his right to keep it out.

City frustration and Stevenage elation was brief. From Callum Cooke’s resulting corner, Cook drilled in a low volley to restore the advantage.

But it soon got even better as the big man completed his hat-trick in 38 minutes with the best of the lot.

Finn Cousin-Dawson, who again shook off an early booking to produced an assured display, did well to cut out Ben Coker’s cross and a fine pass turned defence into attack.

Then it was all about Cook outmuscling his marker before dinking a left foot over Anang to complete the perfect treble.

Vernam was running Stevenage ragged and rattled one just wide as some fans thought a fourth goal had flown in before the half-time whistle saved the visitors.

But there was no suggestion of City running out of steam as they came back out firing, Cooke forcing Anang into an alert block after a flurry of corners.

And Cook’s eyes must have lit up with the prospect of a fourth when he thumped a free header towards the top corner – only for Anang to athletically finger the ball away.

The one-way traffic did eventually produce a fourth as skipper Niall Canavan nodded home with two minutes left after good work from sub Ollie Crankshaw to put the seal on a memorable evening.

CITY: O’Donnell 7, Cousin-Dawson 7, Canavan 7, O’Connor 7, Ridehalgh, Watt 7, Gilliead 7, Vernam 8 (Lavery 79min), Cooke 8, Angol 6 (Crankshaw 70min), Cook 10 (Songo’o, 90min). Subs (not used): Foulds, Kelleher, Evans, Hornby.

STEVENAGE: Anang 7, James-Wildin 5, Cuthbert 5 (Prosser 40min, 5), Vancooten 5, Coker 5, Carter 5, Reeves 5, Taylor 5, Lines 5 (Osborne 49min, 5), List 6 (Reid 64min), Norris 6. Subs (not used): Daly, Smith, Marshall, Bastien.

CITY MAN OF THE MATCH: Andy Cook.