PHIL Parkinson insists City cannot afford to lower their standards as they face up to the worst travellers in League One.

The Bantams are still buzzing from their win at Preston – ending the division’s longest unbeaten home run.

They are back at Valley Parade tomorrow against Peter Taylor’s Gillingham, who have picked up only two points from eight away games.

But Parkinson has stressed that City, seeking only their third home win, must show the same level of intensity that earned the dramatic victory at Deepdale.

He said: “I want to see the players show everything they did last week but at home – that’s the only pressure from me. Nothing less will be good enough.

“The first half, in particular, was terrific and if we can replicate that then with the quality players we have, we can shine.

“We didn’t carry anybody in terms of effort and that’s what is needed to give ourselves the best chance of getting the right result.

“From the first minute to the last, all 14 players have got to give everything. Since I’ve been here, everything we have achieved has come from when we have done that.

“You look at how tight results are right across this division. You have to battle for every single point.”

Tomorrow is the first of three successive games at Valley Parade and Rory McArdle believes it is vital to put down a marker.

The defender said: “Winning the first one is massive. You get that winning feeling back and then you want it again – it just becomes a bit.

“One becomes another and before you know it, you’ve got six points in two weeks. At another time, that might take you a month.

“The table is still reasonably tight and a good run of results together can push you right back up there again.”

Taylor feared for his own future after Gillingham went ten games without a win. But back-to-back victories in the last week mean they will head north with morale boosted.

Parkinson said: “Gillingham have changed formation round in the last few weeks so it’s difficult to predict what system they will play.

“I would imagine they will sit deep and try to soak up pressure. So there are times when we are going to have to be patient.

“They are on a good run at the moment after winning at Crawley (in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy) and then at home to Leyton Orient last weekend.

“I’ve watched the Orient game and both teams gave it everything but Gillingham were deserved winners in the end.

“So they will come to us with renewed confidence and we’ve got to be prepared to really work as hard as we have been doing in recent games.”

Gillingham centre half John Egan returns to City for the first time since suffering an horrific broken leg against Plymouth there wo years ago.

Egan was making only his fourth appearance on loan from Sunderland when he landed awkwardly from a header. His leg snapped in two places – and he was unable to kick a ball again for the next ten months.

The Irishman, who can expect a good reception, said: “It was very unfortunate and a long process to get back. It was a hard time.

“But I will never forget the way the Bradford fans helped me.

“They sang me off the pitch and it meant a lot. I received lots of letters from fans saying ‘get well soon’ and that all helped me – I can’t thank them enough for that.”

Parkinson, meanwhile, hinted his striker search could pay off before next Thursday teatime’s loan deadline.

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, who has been on trial with City, is still recovering from his recent injury and is training nearer his home.

Parkinson said: “Sylvan isn’t fit at the moment, he’s still injured. He lives in the Midlands so he has been down at St George’s Park doing his rehab.

“There’s another week before the loan window closes and we are working on a couple of things.

“The squad’s looking okay at the moment. It’s strong and we’ve got players back.

“But we are looking and if someone comes available to add to what we’ve got, then we will try to do something.”