CITY should be heading into their Valley Parade showdown with Bolton tomorrow above them in the table.

Assistant boss Kenny Black reckons the Bantams are ten points behind what their season has warranted. Instead they welcome Phil Parkinson back tomorrow six behind his side having played two games more.

Black admits they need to develop the mental toughness and learn from the third-placed visitors how to grind out results to make sure of a League One play-off finish.

He said: "You could add Tuesday's game (at Fleetwood) to the long list we've had this season when we haven't got the required result we felt we've deserved. We were baffled to lose it.

"You wouldn't be far off the mark to say we could have another ten points in the bag – but you've got to gain them by putting the ball in the back of the net and defending properly.

"The players know we're in good form but that alone is not going to get us the required results. We need to get ourselves over the line.

"When you look at the league positions at the end of the season, nobody comes back to say 'do you remember this game or that one'. It's the points tally, goals scored, goals against and your finishing position – that's all that matters."

A bumper crowd is anticipated as Parkinson returns to the ground where he enjoyed so many special occasions as Bantams boss. Bolton have sold out 2,250 away tickets and the attendance should break 20,000 for the third time this season.

Black said: "There was a big hype surrounding it when we played at Bolton. But it's probably more so on this occasion because it's the first time Phil has come back.

"Phil and his backroom staff, Steve (Parkin) and Lee Butler, did a fantastic job in the four or five years he was at Bradford."

Parkinson insists he will relish the occasion and leading out Bolton in such a frenzied atmosphere.

He said: "We'll go to Bradford and we know it will be full-on. There will be 20-odd thousand and the fans will be baying for blood – but I can't wait."

Yet Black wants points, not platitudes, at the end of the game and said: "We keep hearing it from opposition managers, telling us we're a good side.

"But that doesn't make it any easier, especially on Tuesday night when we've just lost a game. It's nice to hear the plaudits but you've got to earn them on the park."