As Bradford City fans know only too well, Antoni Sarcevic has a habit of rising to the big occasion.

Wearing the captain's armban for the first time since October due to the Max Power outage caused by the midfeilder's two-match ban, he was playing against Stockport County, who he helped drag up from the Conference to League One, he was the obvious man to turn to in a match that needed a lift.

After 47 minutes of fairly drab Tuesday night fare, Stockport were able to cut out a dangerous Josh Neufville cross, but only put it out for a deep throw-in.

From it, Bobby Pointon nodded down a Lee Evans cross, Sarcevic beat firmer Leeds United midfielder Lewis Bate to the second ball and lashed a beautiful shot into the net.

It was a goal, if not a game, worthy of the biggest midweek crowd in the club’s history – 22,488. The home fans saw their team leapfrog Stockport with a 1-0 win and can pat themselves on the back for the part they played in getting their team over the line.

Until Sarcevic's goal it looked a lot like two teams only a point apart not wanting to lose or needing to gamble at this stage of the season.

On a thinning pitch, Bradford often looked to play big diagonals but the best chance of the opening 45 minutes came after a series of short passes, Ethan Wheatley playing Sarcevic through but a sliding Pointon unable to get on the end of a pull-back.

Beyond that, there was not a great deal to write home about with a lot more perspiration than inspiration. But that perspiration would be crucial for the Bantams.

GOAL: Antoni Sarcevic (Image: Jonathan Gawthorpe)

placeholder image — GOAL: Antoni Sarcevic (Image: Jonathan Gawthorpe)

Wheatley had a wild shot when Stockport gave the ball away to Pointon, who threaded it to the full debutant.

Malik Mothersville came inside Matthew Pennington and Jenson Metcalfe but when the ball was worked to Tyler Omyango, his shot was blocked.

Aiden Baldwin got on the end of a 19th-minute corner well won by Tyreik Wright, but his strike was weak.

Well former Sheffield United midfielder Oliver Norwood but a free-kick into the wall, Evans – starting for Bradford for the first time in just short of a decade – charged down the follow-up attempt too.

CHANCE: But Bobby Pointon could not get on the end of a flowing Bradford City move (Image: Jonathan Gawthorpe)

Mothersville was set fee in the inside-left channel on the half-hour but his shot lacked conviction and was anyway straight at Sam Walker.

Sarcevic's goal broke the deadlock, but certainly not the dam.

The Bantams had to soak up a lot of pressure once in front, but managed to do so without turning to their bench until stoppage time, when George Lapsile replaced the impressive Pointon.

Bradford did a good job of limiting the Hatters' chances but Adama Sidibeh poked wide after a bit of a goalmouth scramble and Tanto Olaofe did not quite get enough on his header from a right-wing cross.

FIRST START: Ethan Wheatley (Image: Jonathan Gawthorpe)

At the other end, Evans twice ballooned long-range efforts into the Kop.

It briefly showed its frustration when Evans won a free-kick on halfway, only to overhit his quick pass intended for Kayden Jackson, who had replaced Wheatley at the break.

Generally, though, they remained noisily supportive, sensing their importance.

They saw Wright whistle a shot just wide and a Metcalfe effort tipped around the post as the Bantams finally started to ease the pressure.

Not that they stopped it altogether.

Wright had to cover across to make a big centre-back's tackle when Evans lost the ball in midfield in the 86th minute and barely 60 seconds later Sam Walker made a big save to beat away a shot from Ben Osborn.

That was only Stockport’s second shot on target all night – the same number Bradford had.

Cold Tuesday's night wins like this might not be the most pretty – certainly not entertainment on the scale of Saturday's victory over Peterborough United – but in many ways these wins are the more important for clubs with ambitions to go places.

Bradford City: Walker; Pennington, Baldwin, Tilt; Neufville, Metcalfe, Evans, T Wright; Sarcevic (Lapslie 90+4), Pointon; Wheatley (Jackson HT).

Unused substitutes: Humphrys, Mullin, Kelly, Ashby, Hilton.

Stockport County: Hinchliffe; Olowu (Gardner 86), Hills, Pye; Onyango (Dodgson 56), Norwood, Bate (Bailey 61), Osborn; Sidibeh (Olaofe 61), Mothersille (Diamond 61); Wootton.

Unused substitutes: Dixon, Adda.

Referee: R Joyce (Teesside).