CITY will pay a heavy price after Steve Davies received their third red card of the season.

The striker's late petulance at Coventry has ruled him out of the crucial final three League One games as the Bantams battle to hang on to their play-off spot.

But for Lee Evans, his "red mist" moment has proved the catalyst in an outstanding run of form.

The Welshman was again the pick of City's display at the Ricoh Arena, when they were unlucky to walk away empty-handed.

The central midfield partnership of Evans and Josh Cullen has been instrumental in the push into the top six.

But the on-loan Wolves man reckons it was the enforced absence following his dismissal at Port Vale in January that made him really up his game.

Evans said: "My form since my sending-off against Port Vale has really improved. Sometimes you realise more when you're not in the team.

"It was a long three weeks for me and I did a lot of thinking. They also made sure I did a lot of running. I was worked hard – like a mini pre-season.

"I think I'm much fitter now because of that and a lot more confident in my play. I feel I've really gone up a gear since then."

Tuesday was only the third occasion City have been beaten in the 12 games when Evans and Cullen have worked in tandem.

The pair, who played together for the first time in the 4-0 blow-out at Peterborough, quickly struck up an understanding – and a friendship.

Evans said: "We get on well both on and off the field and that always helps. I know what Josh is going to do and he's the same with me.

"We can give each other the ball and have the confidence that we'll keep moving it."

The way Evans has been playing has not gone unnoticed at his parent club. Molineux boss Kenny Jackett recently remarked on his improvement – and backed him to make the step-up to the Championship next season.

"I have got a lot of time for Lee and I've watched him myself in some big games in League One," said Jackett.

"He is at a big club in Bradford who are just about in the play-offs now and are competing for promotion. I think it has been a very good season for him.

"I think he has improved and next year I think he is good enough to come back and play in the Championship – and play for Wolves."

Evans is flattered by the praise but not looking any further than City's play-off fight.

"I saw that on the Wolves website and it's nice that the manager's been watching," he said.

"But at the moment my focus is just on doing this job for Bradford and hopefully getting promoted.

"We can't think we've done the job now because we're in the play-offs. We've got some tough games left and we have to keep preparing right.

"Barnsley have kept it all tight and will be chasing to the last day of the season, so we've just got to keep winning as many games as we can.

"We're getting good players back like Fil (Morais) and Ando (Paul Anderson). We've got good lads missing out on the 18 altogether, let alone the starting 11.

"It makes training that bit more competitive, which can only benefit the whole team. Everyone is kept on their toes."