Christian Doidge scored twice to make it back-to-back wins for Forest Green Rovers as they beat Bradford City 2-0 at the University of Bradford Stadium.
Steve Cotterill made just one change to his Rovers side that defeated Walsall as Tyrese Omotoye replaced the injured Richard Keogh for his first start since December.
Cotterill has been an advocate for his team to start games on the front the foot, so he would have been delighted to see his Rovers side take the lead inside the opening 60 seconds.
Doidge met a Dominic Thompson corner with a stooping header, leaving Bantams goalkeeper Sam Walker no chance as it nestled in the back of the net.
Both sides spent the opening 45 minutes trying to settle on a difficult playing surface and Rovers found their rhythm on 22 minutes when Charlie McCann fired just over following a well timed cross from Omotoye.
The Bantams’ best chance of the half came in the 33rd minute, Tyreik Wright made a smart run across the face of goal but could only find the side netting.
The second half saw the Bantams come out flying. On 49 minutes Wright took aim from 25-yards but his powerful strike was well held by Vicente Reyes.
Rovers’ Chilean shot stopper was at it again on 63 minutes, when he got down well to beat away a Clarke Odour driven effort.
Reyes was once again called into action, making a stunning save with his feet to keep out Jamie Walker from close range before Jordan Moore-Taylor miraculously hooked away the follow up effort.
The Bantams threw everything forward in search of a late equaliser in additional time but a swift Rovers counter attack saw McCann brought down inside the Bantams’ area, with referee Simon Mather pointing to the spot.
Doidge stepped up and confidently fired the spot kick high into Walker’s net to secure another massive three points that pulled Rovers out of the drop zone for the first time in four months.
Rovers return home on Saturday for another vital League Two clash as they welcome Sutton United to The New Lawn.
Starting XI: Reyes (GK), Thompson, Inniss, Moore-Taylor ©, Robson, Bunker, McCann, Osadebe, McAllister (Jones 81'), Doidge (Bernard (90+4’), Omotoye (Lavinier 68').
Subs not used: Searle (GK), Johnson, Robertson, Maddox.
