Port Vale v Bradford City: Strength of squad crucial to Bantams’ hopes of gate-crashing the play-offs

The former Scunthorpe United player came off the bench to score the Bantams’ killer second goal late on in the 2-0 weekend win at York City after starting the home game with Dagenham three days earlier.

Manager Phil Parkinson made five changes for the trip to Bootham Crescent and with City facing a fourth game in nine days tonight, he is expected to don the guise of tinkerman again.

Thompson, who replaced Nakhi Wells on 55 minutes at York, said: “You have got to accept it. We have a really good squad and you know you are not going to play every week. I started on Wednesday and then the gaffer said he was bringing fresh legs.

“It is all about squad rotation and making sure the gaffer can put the freshest team out there possible. The fact we made six changes for the Dagenham and five on Saturday just shows the strength of the squad.

“When you play, you have to make sure you are on top form or else you won’t get selected.”

Twelfth-placed City’s victory at York was just their second in the league since Boxing Day, but despite the indifferent run, Thompson insists they are more than capable of gatecrashing the play-offs between now and the end of the season.

He added: “We know if we play well on the day that we are a match for anybody in this league.

“We have 13 cup finals to come and there is no reason why we cannot mount a challenge, especially with us playing a lot of teams above and around us.”

Last six games: Port Vale LLWLDW, Bradford City WDLLWL.

Last time: Port Vale 0 Bradford City 2; December 4, 2012; JP Trophy.

Referee: J Adcock (Notts).