"MAKE it so" was the catchphrase of Star Trek commanding officer Jean-Luc Picard, played by avid Huddersfield Town supporter Sir Patrick Stewart, who passed away during the week.

Town emphatically did that on derby day and for those Terriers followers present who suffered in silence at Valley Parade on an autumn lunch-time 13 months earlier, events will have felt cathartic.

This time it was their Bradford City counterparts who went through the mill. Saturday constituted their heaviest-ever home defeat to their West Yorkshire neighbours as the hosts conceded three league goals in a Valley Parade fixture for the first time in over two-and-a-half years.

It was what went before which made Huddersfield’s triumph all the more remarkable. City goalkeeper Jon McCracken hadn’t picked the ball out of his net for almost 11-and-a-half-hours before Joe Low beat him with a magnificent early overhead kick not in keeping with a 6ft 5in centre-half.

Huddersfield Town's Joe Taylor, who scored the Terriers' third goal in the 3-0 derby win at Bradford City. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe

placeholder image — Huddersfield Town's Joe Taylor, who scored the Terriers' third goal in the 3-0 derby win at Bradford City. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe

After six successive clean sheets in all competitions, City shipped three goals in the space of 48 minutes; their first concessions under Michael Duff. A funny old game, which ended with Bradford - the team with the best defensive numbers in the EFL before kick-off - adopting damage limitation tactics following the dismissal of their captain midway through a tortuous second half.

Martin Drury wanted more on his return to BD8, yet was entitled to be happy enough. ‘We want five’ was the pre-game driver for his players, mindful of the fact that City had conceded just five goals in 12 previous league matches this term. Confidence, not arrogance, Drury insisted.

No nap hand, but any visiting side who scores three times at Valley Parade in one game should be safe in the knowledge they are the real deal.

That was reinforced by the narrative of this game. Despite trailing, City were the better side in the opening half. But good sides don’t panic and find a way, which league leaders Town certainly did.

Bradford City captain Antoni Sarcevic, who was dismissed against Huddersfield Town. Photo: Tony Johnson.

On the restart they married defensive solidity - in marked contrast to their feebleness in this fixture in September 2025 - with attacking verve.

That Town clearly possess more gears - they were without Bojan Radulovic, don’t forget - should serve as a warning to serious third-tier rivals.

They were dynamite when it mattered. Two goals in the space of three minutes early in the second half and the game was over.

Duff spoke beforehand of Town being devastating on the counter and the visitors’ second goal was the stuff of nightmares on Hallowe’en. Most un-Bradford like.

City were caught with their pants down following a corner and danger duo Derensili Sanches Fernandes and Joe Taylor were in for a treat.

Corey O’Keeffe got himself in a horrible pickle and Fernandes rammed a low shot through the legs of McCracken for his fifth goal in six outings.

Soon after, Taylor sneaked around George Pratt before dispatching a downward header at the far post from a succulent Sean Roughan left-wing cross which simply oozed confidence.

Quiet in the first half, Taylor and Fernandes remain stellar attacking players with enterprise. One or the other will do something sooner or later. Or both. Their combined league aggregate of goals/assists in 2026-27 now stands at 23. Keep them fit and firing and the sky is the limit this term.

For Drury, it was also a good day tactically. His selections worked, unlike his opposite number.

The big pre-match call seemed to be Low or Radinio Balker. In the event, Drury picked them both, mindful of their aerial progress against a Bradford side who throw it in the mixer. The decision was vindicated.

Duff's move to start with Jake Beesley proved right also. He did his job and put himself about. The decision to bring in Henry Cartwright as Callum Connolly's replacement did not work, by contrast. At times, he looked like someone who hadn't started a league fixture this season.

Duff's half-time substitutions didn't reap reward either in a half where everything that could have gone wrong did. The sight of interval replacement Adam Phillips hobbling off late on applied the salt.

Bradford City: McCracken; Pennington, Baldwin, Pratt; O’Keeffe, Cartwright (Pointon 58), Sarcevic, Touray; Jackson (Powell HT), Swan (Phillips HT); Beesley (Lapslie 72). Substitutes unused: Dawson, Gillesphey, Morgan.

Huddersfield Town: Young; Bronkhorst, Balker (Gooch 92), Low, Roughan (Bowat 83); Fernandes (Tovide 92), Humphreys, Collins, Mumba (Sway 92); Taylor, Fletcher (Harness 78). Substitutes unused: Alnwick, Brierley.

Referee: L Doughty (Lancs)