Bradford City v Notts County: Notts can overcome absence of strike duo insists Taylor

The two strikers have netted 36 goals between them for the second-placed Magpies this season and their absence could work in the favour of City.

However, new Bradford manager Taylor believes Bradford will still have to be on top of their game due to the wealth of options Notts County manager Steve Cotterill has in attack.

He said: "They are two very good strikers and any other club in League Two would probably struggle without them but Notts County have something like eight strikers so they should be okay.

"Whatever team Notts County bring, we will have to be at our best."

Taylor was critical of his players in the wake of Saturday's defeat at Hereford United after the manner in which an encouraging start gave way to a disappointing

2-0 defeat.

It dropped the City manager's win ratio since succeeding Stuart McCall to 50 per cent and he is now hoping for a big improvement against the division's second-placed club.

He added: "I went to watch Notts County recently and they are a good team. I am not one for looking at DVDs from a few months earlier, though I am of course aware they gave Bradford a bit of a walloping on the opening day."

Lee Bullock is suspended for the Bantams, who are also without defender Simon Ramsden (calf). Robbie Threlfall, Taylor's first signing, is available after his loan stay from Liverpool was yesterday extended until the end of the season.

Last six games: Bradford City WLWLWL, Notts County WWWWDW.

Last time: Bradford City 2 Notts County 2; November 6, 2009; Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

Referee: O Langford (West Midlands).