NATHAN Clarke can sense a promotion vision building within Bradford City.

The in-form Bantams can make further inroads on League One’s leading pack when they tackle third-placed Walsall tomorrow.

Unbeaten in ten games, City could set a club record of six consecutive league clean sheets with another shut-out at the Bescot Stadium and equal the all-time overall best of eight from the FA Cup winners of 1911.

Centre half Clarke reached the play-off final with Leyton Orient two seasons ago and can feel a similar spirit developing in the current Valley Parade squad.

He said: “To do well in League One, the feel-good factor in training is important. There has to be positivity.

“The mentality has to be one vision and we have a group who believe in each other.

“When I was at Orient and got to the play-off final, it was exactly the same. There was a group who believed in each other and then backed it up on a Saturday.

“It doesn’t happen too often in a career. I had it first at Huddersfield. When you go to clubs, you get on together but once in a good run of form you can sense that something is building.

“It feels different. Every club would try and do it if you could bottle it.

“But, certainly in my career, I have been able to tell when the togetherness is there to push you on. This is a good group.”

Reece Burke has extended his youth loan from West Ham until January 2 but Clarke has slotted in confidently in his absence.

The former Orient skipper, who returned to his northern roots in the summer, has appeared in the last four clean sheets and impressed in the latest two against Scunthorpe and Coventry.

He added: “I have been getting some games so that is great. The defence has done well this season so when you step in you want to perform.

“We have been pushing each other along and fitness-wise I’ve felt really good. I was just waiting for that chance.

“I love being back in Yorkshire. Being around family does help and my wife and two little girls can come to watch me again.

“I am now happy to have contributed to the team but want to keep that going.

“I enjoy playing with Rory McArdle. He is so consistent.

“Off the field, he is a good lad as well. There is a real togetherness and loads of banter.

“That helps a lot when you’re friends off the pitch, it makes you look out for each other a bit more.”

This week was earmarked as a pivotal period for the Bantams and they have already taken four points from two games to inch into League One’s top six for the first time since February.

Clarke said: “It is a good benchmark for our season to see where we are at. The players were all looking forward to this week because there were so many good games.

“Coventry and Walsall have had fantastic starts to the season. They have good squads, especially Coventry with the big names in there. So we knew both would be tough.

“The confidence is really high among the lads and there is a great sense of belief.

“It is great to be involved in something like that but we can’t rest on our laurels.

“We have got in this position by working hard.”

Clarke believes the Bantams have not looked back since a recent team meeting when the players had the chance to voice any concerns and re-focus their season.

“The honesty of the group came through at the meeting,” he said.

“It wasn’t designed to dig anyone out or anything like that. Just to air a few views and see how far we can push ourselves.

“Basically, everyone was asking ‘Where do we want to be? What are our aims?’

“We feel we have a good squad that is all fighting for each other. That has got us this far so why take our foot off the gas?

“There is some real quality and a lot of experience in higher leagues. We are quietly confident in our squad and the togetherness is brilliant.

“This is an important time for the club and we have had some fantastic runs. But we want to go further and really push on in the league.”