Parkinson can lead City to promotion – McGhee

Mark McGhee, the new manager of today’s opponents Bristol Rovers, said: “Like ourselves, Bradford have ambition to get out of this division and into a higher league but, at the moment, they are in the same fight that we are in. They have got a man in charge now, however, who will eventually get them out of this division.”

The Bantams have struggled this season but Parkinson’s impact is now starting to tell and a sequence of just one defeat in the last eight league games has moved the club six points clear of the relegation zone with a game in hand on the teams below.

McGhee’s arrival at Rovers led to a 2-0 victory at Cheltenham last week and today’s game will be his first at home.

“Obviously, Mark has come in and it seems to have given them a bit of a boost,” said Bradford’s assistant manager Steve Parkin. “They got a great result at Cheltenham so they’ll be full of confidence.

“We have to make sure we are mentally and physically ready for the challenges Mark’s side will throw at us. It will be a good test but it is one that I believe we are more than capable of coping with now.

“There is a lot of strength in depth in the squad and a lot of strength of character in the squad,” Parkin added. “We do look like winning football matches on a regular basis now.”

With Kyle Reid returning from injury and Will Atkinson on loan from Hull City, the Bantams have added strength down the flanks.

Reid has been out for a month with a hamstring tear but is now back. “It is a big boost for the other players to have him back because they know he’s a provider and a danger for us on the pitch,” said Parkin.