WHISPER it quietly, but the early signs of a Swindon Town revival under the new-look Tim Sherwood regime are already beginning to become evident.

A fortnight is far too soon to judge any measure of apparent progress, but there is much to be encouraged by in that period and with Town now heading into a enforced absence due to a premature FA Cup exit, the new director of football will have two further weeks to work with his troops before the next time any more League One points are on offer.

A memorable 3-0 win at home to Charlton Athletic just three days into Sherwood’s tenure could be put down to the effects of a buoyant honeymoon period as what followed in the subsequent two fixtures suggested nothing had changed at all.

The humbling FA Cup exit at the hands of non-league Eastleigh, as well as a heavy drubbing on the road of Rochdale were as embarrassing as they were unsurprising, given the forgettable nature of Town’s season overall and gave Sherwood no doubt about the size of the task at hand.

After shipping seven goals in two games against less than quality opposition, it would be easy for the morale to diminish from the Swindon squad completely.

Since then however, it seems that Sherwood and head coach Luke Williams have demanded that Town pull their socks up and knuckle down to business.

The character of the squad, which has been questioned this term, is built of much stronger stuff these days.

Town were not forced to fend off a flurry of goal-bound efforts against Bradford City on Saturday, as they had been at Southend United four days prior, but they still had to deal with a physical Bantams threat in the final third.

Where it was Lawrence Vigouroux bailing them out at Roots Hall with one stunning save after another, this time it was defenders Lloyd Jones and Raphael Branco throwing their bodies on the line to ensure their goal was never breached.

That allowed Town to hold on to the stunning first-half lead that Anton Rodgers had given them with a sublime long-range free-kick for a hard-earned but very encouraging 1-0 win.

Sherwood will hope Town’s new-found stubborn resistance in defensive will be the backbone from which all future performances can be built and there is plenty for the long-suffering supporters to take heart from too.

After a series of forgettable performances at home, that’s six points from a possible six in League One at the County Ground and two clean sheets in a row to boot.

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Swindon Town's John Goddard gets stuck in against Bradford City

Swindon were given positive news before kick-off against Bradford, with Michael Doughty fit to return after missing the midweek draw at Southend with an ankle problem.

James Brophy was also given medical clearance to play following breathing problems that have restricted him to just one appearance in the previous month.

The duo came into the side at the expense of the suspended Conor Thomas and Sean Murray, who dropped to the bench, as Town switched to what now seems to be their preferred 4-2-3-1 formation.

Doughty was deployed as one of the two deep-lying midfielders alongside match-winner Rodgers, with Brophy out wide on the right in the trio behind lone striker Jonathan Obika.

Town had their first sight of goal after just three minutes when Darnell Furlong forced a corner off James Meredith.

The right-back was also the man to meet John Goddard’s swinging delivery but glanced his header across goal and wide when left unmarked.

The home defence was exposed soon afterwards as Mark Marshall darted up the left and pulled the ball back to Marc McNulty in space in the box but the Bantams striker blazed wide a chance which he should have scored.

Swindon were soon back on the front foot and Goddard latched onto Nathan Delfouneso’s flick-on and saw a shot go behind for a corner, with Doughty blazing well over the top after the resulting set-piece.

Doyle then made the first in a series of good stops as he scrambled behind a Delfouneso drive from the left, with the Bantams stopper then clawing away defender Jones’ header on the line as he rose to meet Goddard’s ensuing corner.

Town got the lead they deserved just before the 20-minute mark with a stunning free-kick from Rodgers from 30 yards.

Obika was halted in his tracks by Nathaniel Knight-Percival after intercepting a loose Stephen Darby pass and Rodgers stepped up and curled a brilliant effort past Doyle and into the top corner.

Doyle kept the score at 1-0 midway through the half as he tipped away a low drive from Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill after the full-back collected a fine Delfouneso pass when charging up the left.

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Lawrence Vigoruoux keeps out an effort from Bradford's James Hanson

There were a few warning signs for Town at the back as the half headed to a close, though, with Marshall drilling wide from a tight angle on the right.

Knight-Percival then carved open the home defence and pulled the ball back to James Hanson, who blasted over from 12 yards, before the Bantams striker lashed a snap-shot straight at keeper Vigouroux in stoppage time at the end of the half.

Bradford were first to threaten after the restart as full-back Meredith cut the ball back from the left to Josh Cullen in the box but his effort was straight at Vigouroux.

Swindon had already withdrawn the returning Brophy for Ellis Iandolo at the break, but faced a headache at left-back just five minutes into the second period when Ormonde-Ottewill limped off with an ankle injury.

That forced youngster Tom Smith to be fielded as a makeshift full-back but the midfielder quickly settled into the unfamiliar position and nullified the threat posed by Marshall on the Bantams’ right with aplomb.

Town thought they had doubled their lead on the hour when Obika collected Goddard’s incisive through ball to round Doyle and score but he was denied by an offside flag.

An excellent Swindon attack shortly afterwards ended with Furlong whipping in a cross from the right but Delfouneso was unable to get a clean contact at the back post and the ball drifted wide for a goal-kick.

The home side continued to have the clearer chances and Doughty fed Obika on the edge of his box, and he was able to turn Romain Vincelot but Doyle got down well to smother his low effort.

Bradford were inches away from snatching an equaliser with eight minutes to play when substitute Filipe Morais whipped in a teasing ball from the right and Hanson climbed highest to meet it but saw a looping header glance the outside of the post.

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Substitute Tom Smith enjoys the winning feeling with coach Ross Embleton after the final whistle on Saturday

Obika had the chance to put the game to bed with two minutes to go after substitute Luke Norris, brought on to replace Delfouneso, saw a shot blocked in the box and although the ball broke nicely for the Town striker, he blazed over from six yards.

The Bantams flooded forward in the closing stages, lumping balls into the box in an effort to find an equaliser, with Hanson squeezing the ball wide at the back post.

Swindon were forced to survive six minutes of additional time at the end of the game and Bradford even sent keeper Doyle forward for a series of late set-pieces but the hosts clung on for their victory.