Kevin McDonald has best start as Bantams boss for 29 years

KEVIN McDonald hopped around the technical area like a cat on hot bricks.

He rarely stood still through 95-plus tense minutes on the way to another victory in this most glorious of honeymoons for City’s caretaker boss.

McDonald has already become the first Bantams manager, permanent or otherwise, to win his first three games in charge since Lennie Lawrence in 1994.

“I’d say I’ve taken to it all right – at times,” he said when pressed once more about his impressions of life in the dug-out.

McDonald continues to play down what he is doing; more comfortable with deflecting any praise onto the players and those helping him on the coaching front.

It is that humble approach that has won the admiration of the dressing room.

Kevin McDonald had reason to smile again on the touchline (Image: PA)

Like Bobby Pointon with the fans, the players see “big Kev” as one of their own. That respect will get them running the harder yards for their new leader.

The change from the sullen, beaten group in the final days of Mark Hughes is everywhere.

Look at the transformation in Emmanuel Osadebe; finally looking the talent that we have waited so long to witness.

Few will have had a more dramatic – or ultimately rewarding – week than City’s ever-smiling number eight.

McDonald the player in midweek switched back to McDonald the manager at Plough Lane but he was still kicking, heading and tackling every ball.

On the odd occasion, he would turn to seek advice from Mark Trueman sat on the bench behind him. But for the most part, he was a constant fidgety presence looking every part the gaffer.

His latest win was not without its scares. Wimbledon striker Omar Bugiel was just as wasteful as Charlie Austin had been for Swindon the week before.

On another day, that glancing header from a corner would have bounced in off the upright instead of coming back into play.

Or that stretching volley that took the faintest City touch past the far post would have nestled in the corner.

But there’s nothing wrong with being a lucky manager. Good teams earn good fortune and City have certainly suffered their bad-luck stories during the sticky periods.

It’s about time they got a few breaks and, with the effort being put in right now, they can feel it is warranted.

Harry Lewis was back to his confident self in City's goal (Image: PA)

Ryan Sparks will have left south London with an increasing sense of calm as he looks ahead to a week when the whittling-down process for potential candidates will begin.

City’s chief executive, as we keep saying, has no need to rush an appointment.

McDonald’s fast start is producing better results and performances. Why rock the boat – and place unnecessary pressure on a new man coming in – by forcing through a change at this stage?

The big Scot remains the favourites with the bookies, of course, but a glance down that particular list shows that nobody is particularly “in the know”.

It is an open field and, while the current uplift goes on, one that is unlikely to be settled any time soon.

This was a very different City from the one that took the game to Swindon.

After a bright start fizzled out, they had to dig in against an eager Wimbledon side.

The first half lacked the fluency from before and they had to battle it out in a feisty contest.

Wimbledon began to ask more questions as Jake Reeves dropped deep to pick up the ball from his defenders and then looked to set his team going.

Reeves has always been a good player, without a doubt. It was just such a shame that we saw that so fleetingly during those injury-ravaged times at City when he feared he might never kick a ball again.

Richie Smallwood takes no prisoners as he tackles Armani Little (Image: Thomas Gadd)

With his prompting, City found themselves on the back foot – and were grateful to Harry Lewis for keeping the back door shut.

The keeper showed again that the blunder at Tranmere was just a horrible flash in the pan. This was the Lewis we have come to expect.

There was a slight hint of jeopardy about the unorthodox way he stopped James Tilley when clean through – one of three occasions when Wimbledon’s top scorer lost their personal battle.

But Lewis did enough to defuse the situation and then pulled off an athletic save to tip away from Armani Little.

City had not mustered a shot on target in the first half; a scenario that stretched past the hour.

Then Little wasted another decent chance – and how the Bantams made him pay.

Andy Cook had been a frustrated figure as he found little joy out of centre halves Alex Pearce and Joe Lewis, whose choice of the shortest shorts looked like a flashback to the mid-1980s.

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But then a scrappy bout of head tennis ended with Alex Gilliead nodding forward and Cook beating his marker to nod on.

Osadebe, who had only just come on for the ineffective Adam Wilson, was on to the loose ball in a flash.

Holding off the close attentions of Isaac Ogundere, he kept his composure to draw Alex Bass from his goal and squeeze a shot past the one-time City loanee.

Just like buses, you wait ages for an Osadebe goal and suddenly two come along in quick succession.

His trademark grin shone even brighter after the frustration of that Grimsby red card and City losing the appeal.

Pointon bagging the winner last week, now Osadebe … who writes McDonald’s scripts?

There was still plenty more work to be done; plenty more fretting for the tall track-suited figure prowling anxiously on the touchline.

Bugiel tested everyone’s nerves but the post did its job. Then hearts were in mouths again when Tilley fell theatrically under Brad Halliday in the box before another three points and another clean sheet were secured.

Wimbledon losing at home is not exactly headline news. They have won just three times in their own backyard in this calendar year.

Brad Halliday helps up James Tilley after Wimbledon's penalty appeal (Image: PA)

But while the performance was not especially smooth, the defensive resilience and genuine backbone on display provides huge encouragement.

There is a clear belief growing within this team that they expect to win even when not at their most convincing.

Three consecutive victories represents City’s best run of form since the beginning of March.

How McDonald and the team will react to a first setback under his command remains to be seen. Wrexham, and Phil Parkinson, are lying in wait to test that resolve next weekend.

Valley Parade will be bouncing, without a doubt, and the crowd could be nudging the 20,000 mark.

The McDonald factor is responsible for that, every bit as much as the return of the manager who will always be the yardstick for his many successors.

It promises to be some occasion.