Manchester City managed only their second league win of the season with a 2-0 victory over Bradford at Maine Road.

	Benito Carbone takes on Paul Ritchie at Maine Road (GaryMPrior/Allsport)

And life just keeps on getting better and better for Paul Dickov.

After being drafted into the Scotland squad as a late replacement for their two World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Croatia, he came on as a substitute to win his first two caps.

The Glaswegian capped a fine first-half performance by opening the scoring with a crisp right-foot volley before Alfie Haaland fired home just before the interval to make sure of the points.

The first half was virtually all about Dickov, who once again was preferred to former World Footballer of the Year George Weah.

Weah is reportedly unhappy at being left on the bench, but not even he can argue that much with Dickov, who was named man of the match, in such form.

Dickov has spent most of his career in the shadows at Arsenal and City, but finally this could be his season to shine.

His performance could hardly have been better timed with the competition among the City strikers about to increase significantly with the return from injury of last season's top scorer Shaun Goater, who was on the bench.

Dickov created City's first chance from a counter attack when he released Danny Tiatto on the left and the Australia let fly from the narrow angle and his drive was well held by Matt Clarke.

Dickov should have scored when City caught Bradford on the break again in the 13th minute.

Mark Kennedy burst through the middle before laying the ball through to Dickov on the right. The 27-year-old had time and space, but shot straight at Clarke who saved comfortably.

Dickov made amends with a fine strike on the half hour to give City the goal their pressure deserved.

David Wetherall could only head Kennedy's right-foot cross as far as Dickov, who was standing in the area 16 yards from goal, and he connected with a sweet right-foot volley which gave Clarke no chance. That was Dickov's second of the season and three minutes later he was denied another by the woodwork when he hit the bar with an overhead kick from an acute angle on the left.

Bradford, who have recorded just one point and one goal on their travels this season, were enjoying their fair share of possession without testing the fit-again Nicky Weaver in the City goal.

Their first decent effort on goal did not come until the 41st minute when Benito Carbone clipped a free-kick wide from just outside the box.

City showed Carbone how it's done when they doubled their lead in first-half stoppage time from a free-kick just outside the Bradford box after Stuart McCall had handled the ball.

Kennedy touched the ball to Haaland and the Blues skipper drove home an unstoppable effort, which took a slight deflection off the on-rushing McCall on its way into the far corner.

Bradford created a decent opening in the first few seconds of the second half when Ashley Ward directed a free header wide at the back post from Peter Beagrie's cross.

Bradford kept up the pressure on the City goal and won a number of corners before Dean Windass headed wide to give City a breather.

City almost scored a third from a lovely move. Dickov powered his way into the box before backheeling the ball to Kennedy and his cross was steered just wide by Paulo Wanchope.

City continued to press and Jeff Whitley attempted to play a one-two with Wanchope only for Clarke to beat the Northern Ireland midfielder to the ball.

Bradford showed little sign of pulling a goal back and their plight was eloquently summed up when Windass completely fluffed a good headed chance from Carbone's teasing cross.

Instead it was City who looked more likely to score and Clarke held a Gerard Wiekens header from Kennedy's corner at the second attempt before the lively Tiatto fired just over.

Kennedy was having a better second half and he stung Clarke's hands with a rasping drive before he tested the Bradford goalkeeper with a header.

Dickov was having a quiet second half by comparison with his display in the first 45 minutes, but he reminded Bradford that he was still around with a fine volley, which was saved by Clarke.

Dickov then felt he should have had a penalty when he claimed he had been brought down by Clarke, but referee Barry Knight did not agree.

It made little difference and three minutes later Knight blew to signal the end of the match.

City boss Joe Royle will be relieved to win at home finally, while defeat leaves Bradford firmly rooted in the relegation zone.