VERDICT: Adams finds right way to get Bantams winning again

DEREK Adams is unlikely to pick up a sideline career as a Frank Sinatra impersonator any time soon.

Ducking out of the rain in the main stand concourse, the City boss hardly conjured up images of Ol’ Blue Eyes as he spelled out his personal version of “My Way”.

But Adams left the assembled press pack in no doubt that he is the “Chairman of the Board” at Valley Parade.

How the Bantams perform this season will be down to him – and him alone.

“It’s my job to lead this football club into the next division and I’m going to do my best to do that,” he said.

“But I’m going to do it my way and nobody else’s.

“That’s something I feel very strongly about. I’m afraid to say I’m not going to listen to anybody else – I’m going to do it my way.”

Armchair managers are wasting their breath; social media pundits may as well spare themselves the keystrokes. He’s not listening or reading.

Adams has a single-minded approach to a job that he is determined to crack, whatever the noise around him.

At the final whistle, he turned straight for the dressing room. No punching the air in celebration of a first win in eight in all competitions, not even an acknowledgement for the crowd.

There was no doubt that the City boss was delighted with his side’s response to the public mauling he gave them after Crawley. But there was nothing on show for public consumption.

Yann Songo'o wins a header after being moved to centre half

The Scot had similarly not been swayed by the vocal frustration that has been building over the last barren month.

While this victory was much needed to calm everything down, Adams has always been prepared to play the long game towards the promotion aim.

He’s been here before – a year ago.

Morecambe began last season with a bang with four victories in their opening five games – only to win just once in the next nine.

They were 10th after 10 matches on 16 points, one more than City currently at the same stage, and would not hit the play-off places properly until the week before Christmas when they were 19 games in.

What’s that Sinatra song, “The best is yet to come”?

Any panic over City’s September shortcomings has not been coming from the manager’s office.

Chief executive Ryan Sparks had weighed into the debate with some forceful programme notes having a pop at those looking for scapegoats after each poor result.

He wrote: “Shifting the blame and the narratives every time we do not pick up three points on the field does not help anyone and masks over below-par on-field performances.”

Going on the attack laid himself open to a load more criticism had City fallen short once more.

As it was, a first three points since August 21 ensured the EFL’s youngest CEO could enjoy his 30th birthday weekend without his phone going into meltdown.

Again, the post-match press briefings were dominated by talk of missing chances, failing to hit the target and the need to be more clinical.

Only this time, it was visiting boss Robbie Stockdale bemoaning his side’s profligacy around the penalty area rather than Adams.

Rochdale’s tally of 15 attempts at goal included only one that forced Richard O’Donnell into a save as City recorded a first clean sheet since the season opener at Exeter.

Adams had caused a selection stir by shifting Yann Songo’o to right-sided centre half at the expense of Fiacre Kelleher.

But it is a role that Songo’o has played previously for his manager – Adams originally took him from Blackburn to Ross County as a defender.

That was part of the tactical tweaking to negate Rochdale’s expansive approach in a contest that the Bantams boss compared with a basketball game as play swung quickly from one end to the other.

Andy Cook is all smiles after his second-half penalty wrapped up the win

Levi Sutton’s return in midfield added energy and box-to-box enthusiasm and contributed to an increased tempo in City’s play.

And Charles Vernam was welcomed back with open arms after proving a big miss in Crawley.

While the performance was far from perfect – and the passing grew sloppy at times particularly after the break – it still marked a vast improvement on the feeble fare offered up the week before.

This was the reaction that Adams had demanded and Valley Parade appreciated a return to the home norm.

There was a first-minute scare as Songo’o slid in to deny the dangerous Corey O’Keeffe but otherwise the early chances were all in City’s favour.

Andy Cook, in particular, looked determined to end his own recent drought with a string of opportunities.

Two were denied by Rochdale skipper Eoghan O’Connell, a header flew wide and keeper Joel Coleman plunged low to his right to deny the striker from close range.

Vernam drilled into the side-netting before football’s fine margins were exposed once again by a critical 60 seconds.

Rochdale should have been in front as Danny Cashman found an unmarked Abraham Odoh 10 yards from goal – but his panicky effort cleared the bar.

City seized on their escape to shuttle the ball to the other end where Liam Ridehalgh’s throw-in was worked via Callum Cooke and Vernam into the path of Sutton.

His drive from outside the box proved too hot for Coleman and Alex Gilliead was following in to beat Jeriel Dorsett to the rebound.

It was a big moment for Gilliead, his first goal since returning to the club in June – in fact his first direct involvement in any City goal. How he needed to break that duck.

The scorer disappeared under a mob of white and claret shirts in the teeming rain as the clouds hanging over the club began to lift.

But there was still plenty to be done against a lively opponent who committed more men forward in pursuit of an equaliser after the break.

Ridehalgh, who bombed forward with abandon, nearly set up Cooke for a City second before Rochdale were once again cursing their absence of any composure when it mattered.

This time it was Cashman at fault as quick passing opened up the home defence.

O’Keeffe again appeared in and around the City box and squared an inviting pass which the Coventry loanee skewered into the empty Bradford end.

It was further proof that a second goal was required as insurance – and that came 15 minutes from time.

Sutton was at the heart of it with a surge into the penalty area which drew a shove from behind by O’Connell.

Cook’s penalty was perhaps not the most convincing – and drew some sarcastic responses from his team-mates – but Coleman could not keep it out despite getting a touch.

City’s top scorer was back up and running and, more importantly, so were his side.