CITY are “hungry” enough to maintain their pace after bursting out of the blocks in the first month of the season.

That’s the view of assistant boss Steve Parkin after Saturday’s 2-0 win at Rochdale rounded off an impressive August for the new-look team.

City sit fourth in League One, two points off the top, and are through to the third round of the Capital One Cup after a month that saw three away wins – and a historical triumph over rivals Leeds.

Parkin said: “We have to be delighted with the way it’s gone up to now.

“I think it was important financially that we stayed in the cup. We had the good fortune of getting a big draw which enabled us to have a big crowd and be on the television.

“To then win that and then win the game after that, having already won away from home twice in the cup and at Crawley, you can’t ask much more than that. But the players are a hungry bunch and I’m sure their drive will continue.”

James Hanson headed his fifth goal of the season at Spotland after Jason Kennedy had stung his old club with the opener. Both scored in the second half as City showed no hangover from the midweek drama against Leeds.

Parkin added: “We knew how much a win against Leeds meant to our fans and the people of Bradford. It was impossible to get away from the fact.

“It’s testament to the boys because they got stronger as the Rochdale game went on.

“They are really together as a unit at the moment. There is a good feel about it and everyone is pulling for each other, even the lads off the bench are coming on and doing the business.”

Parkin repeated his call for City to bolster their options as they consider any late moves before tonight’s transfer-window deadline.

Clubs outside the Premier League can still dip into the loan market again in a week’s time but the Bantams have pressing concerns with their short-term players.

Keeper Ben Williams is one that the club will want to retain after impressing in both cup ties. But the 31-year-old as well as Filipe Morais, who started on Saturday, Matt Urwin and Mo Shariff technically become free agents after 11pm unless new deals are in place.

Parkin said: “We need to strengthen, there’s no doubt in my mind.

“But they’ve got to be right to fit in the way we want to play and they’ve also got to be prepared to fight for a place.

“It’s no good coming in and just expecting to play – it won’t work like that.

“They’ve got to be able to take it on the chin if they are on the bench and come on and do their best when they’re expected to do so.

“We’ve already seen how important it is with the new players that they learn how we work in terms of rest and recuperation, fitness strength and conditioning – all the things that Nick Allamby does.

“I think they’ve bought into that completely and that’s why they were able to turn in a performance like that on Saturday after the rigours of Wednesday night.”

City still need to cover a predicted £600,000 shortfall in the budget over the season.

But the sell-on clause from the expected departure of former Valley Parade youngster Tom Cleverley from Manchester United, thought to be ten per cent, would provide the necessary leeway.