PHIL Parkinson has reminded those left out of his City side: There’s no place for grumblers.

The Bantams boss admits he is spoilt for choice as he plots an end to Oldham’s two-month unbeaten streak tomorrow.

Skipper Stephen Darby is back from a one-game ban although Andrew Davies is unlikely to be ready as they wait to see a specialist over his recurring calf issue.

Parkinson made four changes for the spirited draw at leaders Bristol City in midweek and has plenty of options to chew over for the short trip to Boundary Park.

And he expects those who are not picked to take it on the chin and rally round their team-mates.

Alan Sheehan was axed for the Ashton Gate game but came on for Davies and produced an impressive response at centre half. Parkinson wants to see more of the same.

He said: “There are a few players who aren’t in the team who are going to be disappointed. As I said with Alan, he felt that and then he came on and played well.

“It’s very important when you go away from home to have that togetherness. All our good results have been when the morale within the group has been a strong one.

“The players who don’t make the starting 11 are key to that. They have to be ready to make a contribution.

“We always talk to the lads individually and collectively about it.

“When things are going well in football, it’s okay to be a good lad in the dressing room and popular.

“The real test is when things are going against you. That’s when the rest of the group will judge you.”

Aaron Mclean was also dropped as Parkinson partnered Jon Stead with Billy Clarke up front.

“I just felt that Steady and Billy was the right partnership on that particular night,” he added.

“Aaron came off early against Sheffield United and hadn’t had his best game. Now like anyone else out the team he’s got to wait for his chance and make sure when we pick the next team that he is ready.”

James Hanson was restricted to bench duty after facing the Blades – his first involvement after missing a month through injury. Parkinson says there are no guarantees that City’s top scorer will start against the Latics.

“Hans has played a bit of football on Tuesday and did some more training yesterday. But Steady and Billly played well so we’ve got that decision to make as well.

“Jon is fitter this time because he’s been really involved with Huddersfield all season around the squad.

“It was different last season. He’d had a spell at Oldham but had also been training with the youth team.”

Parkinson will also keep Oldham guessing about the way City will line up. They have persisted with a midfield diamond for most of the season so far but switched things round at Ashton Gate to play Mark Yeates and Andy Halliday on the wings – a tactic that proved very effective.

He said: “It’s good to have that flexibility of different systems.

“We knew Bristol play three at the back so we thought if we could keep a disciplined four in midfield without the ball, we could certainly give them problems with Halliday and Yeates out wide.

“Oldham have had quite a bit of success with the diamond. So we’ve got a decision to make about what we feel is best.

“They have had a good run and been helped with Jonathan Forte’s goals. But it’s similar to the Bristol City game against another team playing with confidence.

“It’s going to take exactly the same amount of effort. Nothing else will be good enough.

“But we go there with renewed belief after our performance at Ashton Gate.”

Parkinson took issue with post-match comments from Bristol City boss Steve Cotterill after he accused the Bantams of negative tactics.

“I saw Steve’s quotes after the game about there being only one team trying to win it and found them quite bizarre.

“We’d sat down for a drink afterwards and he said we’d caused them more problems going forward than any other team. Then he said the complete opposite in the paper.

“I don’t know where it came from. We certainly didn’t go there to sit back and nullify the game at all.”