In recent weeks the nation has been waking up to the fact that Bradford City are serious contenders for automatic promotion to the Premiership.

However captain Stuart McCall insists his team-mates will not let the publicity go to their heads as they look to bring top flight football to Bradford for the first time in nearly eight decades.

City travel to Birmingham tomorrow on the back of a fine run which has seen them lose just three out of the last 22 league games.

It is a rich vein of form which has seen the Bantams fly into second place and receive glowing praise from pundits and opposition managers.

McCall says the praise is nice for the City players but stresses they do not let it affect their performances.

He said: "Low-key is the word for us. Everything that has been written and said about us in the last couple of weeks has been nice, but we have to stay focused on the matter in hand.

"We all know who we play next week and look at the league table all the time. It is only natural because we know we are in a good position. But it is important we don't get carried away.

"We have only had some good results because we have been working hard together. We must not forget that.

"Now we are in the top two, everyone is tipping us to finish second, but we mustn't get carried away."

McCall was captain of the City side which went so close to winning promotion to the top flight in 1987-88.

Like Jewell's side, that squad also worked tremendously hard for each other although McCall believes the current crop has an advantage over the side from ten years ago.

"Back in 1987-88, we started so well and were top for a long time. Unfortunately our lack of numbers at the back end of the season cost us.

"Because we had been top for a while, the spotlight was on us. This time, Sunderland have been top for months and Ipswich, Bolton and Birmingham have all been second at one stage of the season.

"We have been fortunate with injuries and suspensions. The injuries we have had have been in defence and because we have cover back there, we have been quite fortunate.

"We need to remain lucky although the big difference to the side of ten years ago is that we still have money to spend.

"That is nice to know for the gaffer. It can be difficult to get the right man but at least the money is there if we need strengthening."

City's home form has been superb this season with 32 points being collected out of a possible 42 from the 14 league games at Valley Parade.

However it is away from home where the biggest improvement has come with City having already won six games - the same total the Bantams won in the whole of both 1996-97 and 1997-98.

And this is something which has delighted McCall.

He said: "When I signed, one of the questions at the press conference from a supporter was whether he could sort out the away form. I think we have done that.

"The supporters are also backing us now. The only two away games where we did not perform are Ipswich and Grimsby.

"We play exactly the same way now as we do at home. That can only be good because it usually means the games are entertaining.

"The away support has gradually increased as the season has gone on due to us giving them something decent to watch. I hope we can do the same at Birmingham."

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