MARK Hughes lauded City’s defiance and resolve after they shut down leaders Forest Green to seal his first win as manager.

Callum Cooke and Andy Cook scored in the second half to earn a 2-0 success at the New Lawn – a great way to put a five-game losing streak to bed.

Cooke fired home from 18 yards just after the hour with the aid of a deflection before Cook ran from his own half to hit an empty net with Forest Green keeper Luke McGee stranded having gone up field for a corner.

After the heartbreak of Swindon, Hughes felt City fully deserved their reward in Gloucestershire.

“It’s two really good performances – one good result and one harsh one,” he said. “To get good performances, the results naturally follow that and that’s happened today.

“I’d like to think the lads understand that what we tell them is good information. They are very attentive and coachable.

“This group is really good in that regard, they want to get better and learn how to be more effective and that’s helping me. I see elements of our play improving every time we come together.”

Forest Green’s strike-force of Matty Stevens and Jamile Matt went into the game with a combined tally of 38 league goals – the same as the Bantams.

But they were kept at arm’s length with centre halves Yann Songo’o and Paudie O’Connor leading City’s determination to put bodies on the line.

Hughes added: “That’s a prerequisite at this level.

“There’s always going to be 50-50s, ricochets in boxes, balls recycled and you have to deal with them and I thought the lads were excellent.

“Our set-play work is good at the moment. We’ve changed how we defend corners and I think that’s helping us and long may it continue.

“Yann and Paudie were excellent today. You have to be attentive because they are a big combination at this level – lots of physicality but also quick with feet and mind.

“They are good out wide as well but their key players were kept very quiet today.

“Now we want to build on what we’ve done today going into the next game – hopefully it’s more of the same on Tuesday.”

Cook’s goal was his first for nine games and Hughes appreciated the relief of City’s top scorer to end his recent drought.

“Sometimes it can be hard for Andy. He’s trying to battle for quality that, if I’m honest, we need to improve into him.

“He needs to retain the ball as well and then he can be more effective.

“But he keeps going and got his reward for a good performance.

“As a striker you’re always judged on the goals you score or miss so that will settle him down. He’ll be better for that.”

Dion Pereira made his first City appearance – two months after signing on loan from Luton – and played just over an hour.

“I’ve watched him in training for the last couple of weeks and he’s really impressed me,” said Hughes.

“I think you saw glimpses of his ability in terms of receiving the ball and taking people on.

“He’s not played for a while so that’s why we took him off after 60 (minutes). I was concerned he might re-injure himself.

“But he kept going, a good 60 minutes is a base for him and he’ll get more game-time from now to the end of the season.”

Jamie Walker also returned from his hamstring injury to give the City boss an increasing number of options.

“It’s easing out and gives me more (selection) problems. I had to leave Theo (Robinson) out the playing squad.

“That’s hard on him and he didn’t deserve that. But that’s just because I want to look at something different in terms of positioning given the opposition we had.

“I think the players understand that I may go a different way against certain opposition. But on other occasions I might change the formation and players involved.

“As they get to know me and how I work, it gets to become more acceptable.”