Bradford City 0 Forest Green 2
Forest Green Rovers manager Steve Cotterill heaped praise on his side after they produced a heroic display to beat in-form Bradford City 2-0.
A Christian Doidge double in the first 60 seconds as well as a penalty kick in stoppage time sealed an impressive away victory.
The result lifted Rovers out of the relegation zone for the first time since November.
“They’re really united in that dressing room,” said Cotterill. “Now they know what I’m talking about when I say team spirit. They’re doing the unsavoury jobs for each other.”
Forest Green made the perfect start when Doidge headed home a Dom Thompson corner from close range inside in the first minute of the match.
Tyrese Omotoye returned to the starting line-up and delivered a low cross for Charlie McCann but he could only guide his strike over the crossbar.
Ryan Inniss diverted a cross towards his goal but Vicente Reyes did well to smother Andy Cook’s close-range effort.
Omotoye shifted a yard of space on the left-side and produced a fierce shot across the face of goal but goalkeeper Sam Walker saw it past the post.
The Bantams thought they’d found a late equaliser on 89 minutes when Tyler Walker was spectacularly denied by Reyes before Inniss scrambled the rebound to safety.
In stoppage time, McCann showed incredible energy levels to nick the ball clear of the Bradford defence before being upended in the penalty area.
Doidge stepped up and hammered home the spot-kick to give Rovers back-to-back wins and lifted them out of the League Two drop zone.
Cotterill added: “It’s an unbelievable result and fully deserved as well. It was exceptionally organised especially when we were getting worked.”
“We’re happy, but we’re humble. We’ll now be a lot higher in the form table too.”
“We’re not there yet but they’ve thrown their heart and soul into it. I’ve congratulated and thanked them in there for their efforts since I’ve come in.”
“I’ve been in the game a long time, things can change in football. Let’s hope we can keep it going and stay above that line and claw another team or two.”
On Doidge: “I’m so, so pleased for him. Those two goals were brilliant. He was at it from the start and he was at it right at the end.”
Bradford City: S Walker, Tomkinson, Kelly, Ridehalgh (T Walker 45), Halliday (Chapman 63), Smallwood, Gillieard, Richards (Smith 81), Wright, Odour (Kavanagh 63), Cook
Subs not used: Doyle, Oyegoke, McDonald
Forest Green: Reyes, Robson, Moore-Taylor, Bunker, Inniss, Thompson, McCann, Osadebe, McAllister (Jones 81), Doidge (Bernard 90+4), Omotoye (Lavinier 68)
Subs not used:, Johnson, Maddox, Robertson, Searle
Referee: Simon Mather