CHARLIE Wyke insists that City are not feeling the pressure of being expected to win away.

Wyke’s late penalty clinched a fourth successive victory on the road as they beat Southend.

The Bantams have now won eight out of 11 on their travels – and are away again next at Wimbledon as the League One campaign hits the halfway point.

But Wyke does not see the growing weight of expectation from boasting the best away record in the division as an issue.

He said: “We don’t think about it. We just train every day normally and look to carry on.

“But we’re full of confidence because nothing fazes us at the minute.

“You can’t think too far ahead. I don’t look beyond the next game.

“We’re doing well but the end of the season is a long, long way away and anything can change.

“I don’t look too closely at the league table but it’s pleasing that we are putting in performances and getting results at the minute.”

The striker took over spot-kick duty from Tony McMahon, whose last effort against Plymouth was saved.

Wyke, who took his goal haul to 11, said he had plenty of encouragement from the defender after the switch was made.

“The team spirit in the dressing room is fantastic and we can change things up,” he added.

“We’ve spoken to each other about it. Tony’s a team player and he’s let me have it, so fair play to him.

“I was a bit rusty because my last penalty at Morecambe (for Carlisle) was a long time ago.

“I normally go to the right but the keeper had a funny starting position so I couldn’t really do what I wanted.

“So I thought I’d just have to put my laces through it, close my eyes and smash it!

“I admit I’ve never been so nervous in all my life.

“All the fans were gathering behind the goal ready to celebrate and their lads were giving me a bit of gip. I was delighted to see it go in.”

Southend had been the division’s only unbeaten home side after City had finished off similar runs at Wigan and Shrewsbury last month.

The Bantams did not move up with the 2-1 victory because the top three also won. But they opened the gap on close pursuers Scunthorpe and Charlton in the remaining play-off spots.

Wyke said: “We’re beating some big teams at the minute.

“We’re not afraid to play against anyone, especially away from home. We’re going to places and really taking the game to them.

“They are the best type of wins and to score the winner makes it feel even more special for me.

“We went there full of confidence. We knew we could put in a performance and win – and to do it the way we did was fantastic.

“It’s obviously frustrating when a team comes back after you’ve held on for so long. But we’re a team who can grind results out.

“We knew we could get them on the counter-attack and had a few one-on-ones with defenders. My header was also cleared off the line.

“I thought that if we did get a chance, we’d probably put it away and it proved to be in the end.”

Nathaniel Knight-Percival came off with a pain in his hamstring. Nicky Law and Jake Reeves also suffered knocks.