Blackpool v Bradford City: Bantams must win mind games says Dominic Poleon

He had a good start to the season with the Bantams, scoring three goals in their first six matches, but had recently been out of favour with new manager Simon Grayson.

However, the Londoner has started the last two games, scoring the winner against Gillingham and he hopes that he can continue his run in the starting line-up against Blackpool today.

He said: “Personally, it’s been tough. When you’re coming back into the team you want to try and put your best foot forward and I got the goal that we needed against Gillingham and then it was a tough game against Blackburn.

“We knew they were a good side but I don’t think anyone really performed. I don’t think we could implement our game-plan against them.

“It was just one of those things. We’ve just got to go again and just try and put some performances together and get some wins.”

Bradford have been struggling of late, the win against Gillingham their first since New Year’s Day and their first under Grayson.

Poleon was quick to point out that the players have not changed since their fine start to the season, but admitted confidence is low.

He continued: “I don’t think that one player is playing particularly badly. I think as a group we need to all lift each other. It’s not really a personal thing for me to be like ‘I got a goal, I feel great now, my confidence is sky-high after one goal’ because our team is still not performing to the levels that we were performing at, at the start of the season.

“The manager said to us to just to play and to be more confident. It’s more of a mentality thing. We’re the same team as before at the start of the season. We are the same players, we just need to go out there and show what we can do at this time of need.

“When you go on a run like we have gone on you can kind of go into your shell and maybe do things that you wouldn’t naturally do. So I think it’s more of a mentality thing.”

Grayson was critical of his team after the loss to Blackburn, saying he wanted his players to take more risks on the ball.

The Bantams struggled with Blackburn’s midfield and recorded just three shots, none of which were on target.

Poleon said: “I think that without any risks there is no reward. I think we’ve got to just try to be more positive and I think that’s easier said before a game than done.

“I think this is a test of character for us as a group to really go out there and be accounted for. Rather than maybe taking the safe option and passing sideways, maybe we need to try something else that can take us up the field and make a positive impact on the game.

“I keep saying it. We are the same group of players that did so well at the start and I am confident that we can go out there and get a win.”