Bradford City 0 Forest Green 2
Miracle worker Steve Cotterill will be afforded the freedom of Nailsworth if he continues cajoling Forest Green to the promised land of League Two safety.
Rovers recorded back-to-back wins for the first time since the heady promotion days of the Rob Edwards era as Christian Doidge’s brace catapulted Cotterill’s fighters out of the bottom two against an in-form Bradford City, who were previously unbeaten in six matches.
Earlier, Doidge opened the scoring for Rovers inside sixty seconds – his header nestling into the net from a Dominic Thompson corner.
The tenacious Charlie McCann almost made it two, but he fizzed over from Manny Osadebe’s skidding cross.
Bradford’s Tyreik Wright had an opportunity just before half-time but Norwich loanee goalkeeper Vicente Reyes showed strong hands.
Bradford hit their straps after the break, but a stunning stop from Reyes thwarted Jamie Walker. Doidge sealed victory for Forest Green in added time from the spot after Ciaran Kelly upended McCann.
Watch Steve Cotterill deliver his post-match verdict to BBC Radio Gloucestershire’s Billy Hunt
Bradford City: Sam Walker, Brad Halliday (Harry Chapman 63’), Liam Ridehalgh (Jamie Walker 45’), Richie Smallwood (C), Andy Cook, Alex Gilliead, Clarke Oduor (Calum Kavanagh 63’), Ciarán Kelly, Jonathan Tomkinson, Lewis Richards (Tyler Smith 81’), Tyreik Wright.
Subs not used: Colin Doyle, Daniel Oyegoke, Kevin McDonald.
Forest Green: Vicente Reyes, Ryan Inniss, Kyle McAllister (Callum Jones 81’), Charlie McCann, Christian Doidge, Jordan Moore-Taylor (C), Dominic Thompson, Jamie Robson, Tyrese Omotoye (Marcel Lavinier 68’), Harvey Bunker, Emmanuel Osadebe.
Subs not used: Jamie Searle, Dom Bernard, Darnell Johnson, Jacob Maddox, Sean Robertson.
GOALS: Doidge (1’, 90+3’).
Next up: Rovers welcome bottom of the table Sutton United to the New Lawn on Saturday, 3pm.
