Forget the shot count and the corner count, the only statistic that mattered illustrated City's new cutting edge this season.

For all the possession Rochdale had, it was the Bantams' quality in front of goal that won this match. Three games in and that seems to be the main difference between the last campaign and City Mark II under Stuart McCall.

Remember early-season encounters last year against Wycombe and Darlington when City did everything but score? With Peter Thorne and Michael Boulding up front and in this form, that's not going to happen this time round.

And let's not forget the defence, who were tested to the limit by a Rochdale attack full of movement and creativity. They may have rode their luck at times but, as McCall said, on this showing few teams will keep a clean sheet against them.

Omar Daley continued his lively start to the season by creating the first opening of the match after ten minutes. As he likes to do when playing on the left, he beat his man by cutting inside on his right foot and his shot from outside the box was well saved by goalkeeper Sam Russell at the near post.

The ball was pumped straight down field to the dangerous Chris Dagnall on the edge of the box but Matt Clarke timed his interception just right. It was the start of a fine afternoon for the central defender, who more than made up for his own goal in the previous encounter between the sides here.

Rochdale then went close to taking the lead twice in two minutes and both times the danger came from their left. Tricky winger Adam Rundle's cross was headed just wide by Ciaran Toner and then Jon Shaw was a hair's breadth away from converting Dagnall's inviting cross into the six-yard box with the goal gaping.

The Bantams made them pay after 20 minutes with a touch of class that would have not looked out of place in the Premier League.

Daley found Thorne in space on the right-hand edge of the penalty area with an early ball and, with four goals in two games, no one would have blamed the forward for having a pop himself.

But he spotted Boulding lurking on the edge of the six-yard box and curled a superb cross just where his strike partner wanted. Boulding got ahead of his man and launched a diving header into the back of the net for his first City goal.

The visitors almost hit back immediately when Dagnall forced Rhys Evans to tip a shot over the bar. Then Joe Colbeck produced a bit of magic by beating Tom Kennedy and Rory McArdle on one of his barnstorming runs but spoiled his good work with a poor cross.

Prompted by playmaker Clark Keltie, Rochdale had more of the ball but City went 2-0 up ten minutes before half-time.

Nathan Stanton was judged to have fouled Boulding in front of the 900 away fans on the left-hand side following a long punt up field. McCall has always emphasised the importance of providing quality from set-pieces and Paul McLaren's free-kick was right on the money.

Having said that, how Thorne was allowed to be left completely unmarked at the back post, only the Rochdale defence will know. League Two's leading goal-scorer said thank you very much and nodded home to give his side an invaluable two-goal cushion at the break.

Rochdale continued to enjoy more possession in the second half, forcing ten corners, but could not find a way through City, who were content to play on the break.

Keltie was yellow-carded for a reckless challenge on McLaren after 50 minutes and soon afterwards the Bantams midfielder had to come off to be replaced by Kyle Nix. But it was an earlier dead leg in the first half which had stiffened up during the interval that had forced him off.

The sight of Adam Le Fondre coming on as a substitute two minutes earlier will no doubt have made City fans feel uneasy. The striker had left the bench in both games between the sides last season to score late winners.

Sure enough he soon made an impact but, thankfully for the home faithful, his header from a crowded box smacked against the bar and not the back of the net.

Paul Arnison did not have it easy against his opposite number Rundle but produced a vital clearance with 23 minutes left. Dagnall's shot beat Evans but the right back was on the line to clear - a goal then and it was squeaky bum time. But other than a late shot over the bar from Lee Thorpe, that was it from Dale.

Instead, it was City who almost extended their lead. After Thorne was unable to make good contact with a great cross from Nix, Boulding came agonisingly close to his second goal.

It was a case of deja vu as he hit the inside of the post for the second time in a week. Time seemed to stop still as his left-foot shot rolled along the goal-line and back out.

McCall admitted that really would have flattered his side. He was just delighted to gain three points against a team who were one game away from promotion last season and who he believes are even stronger this.

He said: "I said to the lads, this will be the toughest test we've had. Rochdale have got good movement and I can't speak highly enough of them, so we'll take great confidence from this.

"I said last year when we beat Peterborough down here, not many teams would keep a clean sheet against them and they went on to score numerous goals and I think it will be the same case for Rochdale."

BRADFORD CITY	ROCHDALE
1 Rhys Evans	1 Sam Russell
2 Paul Arnison	2 Simon Ramsden
3 Paul Heckingbottom	3 Tom Kennedy
4 Paul McLaren	4 Nathan Stanton
5 Graeme Lee	5 Clark Keltie
7 Omar Daley	6 Ciaran Toner
8 Lee Bullock	8 Gary Jones
10 Peter Thorne	9 Chris Dagnall
12 Matthew Clarke	11 Adam Rundle
14 Michael Boulding	17 Jon Shaw
15 Joe Colbeck	23 Rory McArdle
Substitutes:	Substitutes:
6 Mark Bower	10 Adam Le Fondre for 6 (53)
9 Barry Conlon for 10 (71)	14 Scott Wiseman for 2 (53)
18 Rory Boulding	18 Kallum Higginbotham
20 Thomas Moncur for 14 (77)	19 Lee Thorpe for 17 (67)
22 Kyle Nix for 4 (55)	21 James Spencer

MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee:	A M Penn
Assistant Referee:	P A Davison
Assistant Referee:	N A Yates
4th Official:	D K Benton

GOALSCORERS:
BRADFORD CITY	ROCHDALE
M Boulding (20)
Thorne (35)

DISCIPLINARY:
BRADFORD CITY	ROCHDALE
	Ramsden
	Keltie
	Wiseman
	.