MANCHESTER CITY 2 BRADFORD CITY 0
The little striker won his first two international caps in Scotland's World Cup qualifying matches against San Marino and Croatia, before returning to keep George Weah on the sidelines once again.
The former Arsenal man took only 30 minutes to justify Joe Royle's decision, latching onto David Wetherall's headed clearance and volleying first time past a bemused Matt Clarke.
It was just reward for Royle's brave team selection. Early this week he had bemoaned his side's inability to win at home, so he hatched a plan to attack Bradford on both flanks, with Danny Tiatto and Mark Kennedy causing a stream of problems.
Peter Beagrie, making his return to Maine Road, was in typically devilish mood and contributed to an open and entertaining game.
It was end-to-end action, although there were only a handful of clear chances. After five minutes, Dickov released Tiatto who shot straight at Clarke.
Dickov then repeated the trick, after Mark Kennedy had burst through the centre and picked him out with a right foot pass.
Beagrie, Dean Windass and the shaven-headed Benito Carbone probed to little effect for Bradford before Dickov's goal changed the course of the game, boosting the home side's confidence and enabling them to assume control.
On the stroke of half time came a stroke of luck which all but made the points safe. Kennedy touched a free-kick to Alfie Haaland, and a deflection off Stuart McCall was enough to carry the ball beyond Clarke.
Joe Royle's men weathered a brief Bradford storm after the interval, with Ashley Ward and Wetherall guilty of glaring misses from crosses by Beagrie and Carbone, and Jamie Lawrence inches away from converting a low Ward cross.
Windass then squandered the best opening of the afternoon, heading wide from only eight yards as Paul Ritchie stumbled.
The three points, and a first home clean sheet of the season, lift City into the relative security of 11th place, while Bradford remain one off the bottom.
