Romain Vincelot refusing to plan ahead as Bradford City face Iron trip

The Iron were top of the table, a position they still held as February got under way, and expected to challenge Sheffield United all the way for the title.

However, as Stuart McCall’s side prepare to head to Glanford Park for that live game on Sunday, much has changed with Scunthorpe’s season having collapsed so dramatically that there are genuine fears among the club’s supporters that even a play-off place may prove beyond their side.

Just one win and six points from their last 11 games means the Lincolnshire club sit fifth in the table, one place and two points behind a Bradford side still buoyed by last weekend’s dramatic fightback to beat Swindon Town with two goals in the final five minutes.

That win means City have now lost just once in a dozen outings but, despite the contrasting form of Sunday’s combatants, midfielder Romain Vincelot is expecting a tough examination in front of the live Sky audience.

“We are in a good position now and if we want to keep that going it is all about the next one,” he said. “I am bored with myself saying that, but it is the truth.

“It is all about the next one. That is Scunthorpe, which should be a good game on TV. They have had a few bad results recently, but that doesn’t make it any easier. It is all about us going there with the right mentality, the right desire and doing everything to get the best result.”

A 14-point haul from the last six games has helped strengthen City’s grip on a play-off place. There is still a chance of automatic promotion, too, although Bolton Wanderers’ midweek win at Oxford United has left Phil Parkinson’s men as overwhelming favourites to seal an instant return to the second tier.

If that proves to be the case, Bradford will be facing a second tilt at the promotion deciders in as many years – a notable feat considering the upheaval of last summer that saw Parkinson and his entire coaching staff leave for Bolton.

“There are plenty of points to play for, but nothing is done for the play-offs or automatic,” said Vincelot, when asked about the run-in. “If you have a bad moment, you can lose two on the bounce and then there is pressure. You can’t project yourself too far.”

Vincelot’s reluctance to look too far ahead is understandable. The manner of last weekend’s win over Swindon, however, has ensured City will head to Scunthorpe in buoyant mood.

“It was all about believing,” said Vincelot about a win that came courtesy of Charlie Wyke’s dramatic double. “They got a goal against the run of play and we had to keep calm and keep going.

“Turning things round like that is a good sign for the future. It shows a strong mentality. Late wins are the best ones because you have to dig in so much to get them.

“Everyone has to push themselves that extra bit to get the rewards, and when they come, it is fantastic.

“When we scored the late equaliser against Swindon, we knew that mentally they would be gone and that we had to be ruthless. That is what we did.

“Charlie was great and, when Alex Jones came on, he did fantastically well for the second goal, putting his body on the line so Charlie could finish. It was a real team win.”