Wanderers got cup week off to the perfect start as they brushed aside Bradford to reach the last-16 of the Vertu Trophy, writes Pete Oliver.
The Whites have parked their promotion push until next Tuesday night with an FA Cup tie to come at Swindon Town on Saturday.
And Steven Schumacher’s side will go into that second-round clash against the League Two side in buoyant mood after extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to eight games and their season-long unbeaten home record with a classy cruise past the Bantams.
Ibrahim Cissoko led the way with two fine strikes in the opening 20 minutes as Wanderers swiftly lay down a marker. And they barely let up with a highly-polished performance which could easily have brought them more than the goal of the night from Marcus Forss 20 minutes from the end with a place in the next round in January long since secured.
Wanderers again underlined their squad depth with nine changes to their last League One starting line-up and still having too much for a Bradford side, not short of experience despite five changes of their own.
Cissoko was one of those to come into the side as only George Johnston, who took the captain’s armband, and Xavier Simons ahead of his impending one-match ban continued from Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Luton Town.
The winger had scored his first Wanderers’ goal in the FA Cup win over Huddersfield Town and took his chance again with two fine first-half finishes.
The first came after 10 minutes when, not for the only time, he was given the freedom of the Toughsheet Community Stadium to run onto a lovely through-ball from Forss to calmly slot home.
John McAtee had sparked that counter-attack and was involved again later when the Whites doubled their lead. This time Cyrus Christie’s intended pass didn’t quite fall for McAtee but when the ball bounced clear just outside the penalty area, Cissoko pounced to sweep a lovely first-time effort into the top corner.
The busy McAtee was unfortunate to go off injured not long afterwards as Wanderers enjoyed themselves with some impressive football on the counter-attack, often triggered by the impressive Simons.
Forss teed up Sam Dalby for a chance he lifted over the top and early on Dalby and Richard Taylor were unable to get a decisive touch to a delighted ball in from Christie in a largely dominant display which restricted City to one real chance in first-half stoppage time as Jenson Metcalfe headed at Tyler Miller.
Bradford reacted with a double change and change of formation to a flat back four at the break as they tried to repeat the improved second-half performance that had earned them a point from a goalless draw when the sides met here 10 days ago.
The visitors started in more purposeful fashion but the next real shooting chance again came Wanderers’ way as Christie teed up Cissoko for an effort he fired wide before Neill Byrne let fly at the other end with a long-range strike which whistled over the bar.
It was briefly a more even contest but Wanderers always looked capable of going back up a gear and when they did they guaranteed their progress with a stunning goal inside the final quarter.
Schumacher’s men passed their way from end of the pitch to the other before a beautifully cushioned pass from Joel Randall freed Dalby in the penalty area to pick out Forss to ram the ball home and claim his third goal in a trophy run which may still have some distance to go.
Wanderers looked a powerful outfit and could have added to their tally before the end. Dalby bulleted a header just wide and steered another effort past the post and Cissoko could have gone home with the match ball but from Mason Burstow’s perfect cross couldn’t convert the most straight-forward of his chances on a positive night all round.
Wanderers: Miller; Christie, Forrester, Johnston (Conway 64), Taylor; Simons (Morley 78), Erhahon (Sheehan 64); Forss (Burstow 78), McAtee (Randall 37), Cissoko, Dalby. Substitutes: Sharman-Lowe, Dacres-Cogley.
Booked: None
Bradford City: Walker; Byrne, J Wright (Baldwin 60), Touray; Lapslie (McIntyre 74), Leigh, Power (Swan 75) Richards (Neufville HT); Pointon, Metcalfe; Humphrys (Cook HT). Substitutes: Hilton, Sarcevic.
Booked: Touray, Neufville
Referee: David Rock
Attendance: 2,500 (Bradford 434)