Phil Parkinson has reminded City: Don’t just rely on the strikers to score your goals.

The Bantams travel south today for tomorrow night’s clash with Southend as one of League Two’s lowest scorers.

They have netted just 21 goals in 20 games and none in the last four on the road.

Parkinson has made a new hitman his priority in next month’s transfer window after the Paul Benson deal collapsed.

But the City chief insists his side’s shortcomings in front of goal are not just down to the frontmen. Midfielders Ricky Ravenhill and Michael Flynn both wasted great chances late on to beat Plymouth and Parkinson also wants more cutting edge from his defenders at corners and free-kicks.

He said: “We’ve got to make the keeper work more and that’s everybody’s responsibility.

“You’ve got to be careful when we’re talking about chances and (lack of) goals. You look around the team and it’s not just the strikers who’ve got to score.

“Centre halves have to chip in with goals as well. Midfield players have got to work harder to hit the target when they get in the box.

“Look back at Saturday and if one of those chances had gone in earlier in the game, it could have been a different story. We had really good chances at the end but didn’t show that composure.

“We’ve had a few goals from set-pieces this season but that should have been more with the good headers of the ball that we’ve got.

“We’re a big side and the set-piece delivery the other day wasn’t bad in the main. Sometimes it’s not that first header but the second one and we’ve got to be alive to it.”

Parkinson has one eye on the new year and the expected upheaval within the squad. Six loans are up as well as Marcel Seip’s short-term contract.

A goalscorer will not be the only target on his agenda as City try to scramble out of the dogfight at the foot of the division.

Parkinson added: “I don’t want to keep saying we’re looking for a striker only. We’re looking to go in the second part of the season stronger.

“Everybody connected with the club, supporters, the two chairmen, the physio know we’ve got to do that because we haven’t got enough points.

“People keep talking about January and I know it’s important but we’ve got some big games before then. We have to make sure we are committed and ready. Then we’ll start reshaping things.”

Parkinson confirmed that City are keen to hang on to defenders Seip and Andrew Davies.

“We’d like to keep both of those and I think we’ve got a chance. We’re talking at the moment.

“Some decisions are still to be made but we’ve got to keep everybody together and get to January.”

There is better news for City on the injury front. Robbie Threlfall is back in contention again while long-term absentees David Syers and Lee Bullock are ready for a first run-out next week.