MARK Marshall is confident City can keep raising their game to fend off opponents desperate to be the first team to beat them.

The Bantams have a four-point advantage in second spot after Saturday’s 2-0 win over Shrewsbury.

Nicky Law, with his first goal since returning to the club, and a late Haris Vuckic penalty kept up the early-season charge from Stuart McCall’s men.

Marshall can sense teams now see City as a scalp as they continue to extend their undefeated 12-match start to the campaign. But the winger sees that as a bonus.

He said: “It is good because you raise your game as well and winning becomes a habit.

“The feeling of winning is amazing and I think all the boys go out there every week, trying to do their best. It is going well at the moment and we have to emulate each week's performance.

“The gaffer said to us that we cannot take the game lightly because of the position Shrewsbury are in. They were going to come and see the big stadium and where we are in the league and come out all guns blazing.

"But I think we dealt with that in the right way. We worked hard and passed the ball and never strayed away from what we believe in.

"Our squad speaks for itself and even with the game on Tuesday, the gaffer virtually fielded a different team and look at the performance they put in.

“Even for the lads who are playing, you know if you slip up, there's someone behind you. What more motivation do you need to go out and play well?

“Players are putting the gaffer under the cosh to pick them.”

Marshall was chuffed to see Law claim his first goal for 13 months to set City on the way to a third league win on the bounce. McCall has now challenged the midfielder to “add a zero to the one he’s got at the minute.”

Marshall added: “Nicky’s been brilliant for us all season. He hardly gives the ball away and drives past players.

“He's had a few shots cleared off the line, let's not forget that and sometimes he has just been unlucky.

“He got the goal he deserves and hopefully this is the start of a long goal-scoring run for him.”

Leaders Scunthorpe were held at home by ten-man Northampton so City’s latest win cut the gap to the top to one point.

Marshall said: “I am not going to lie, I do look at the league table sometimes. But I don't watch the highlights.

“I used to a lot when I was younger but if you do it too much, you start picking up on little things you shouldn’t. I know myself whether I have played well or not.

“There is definitely more to come from this team. We can only get better and there's loads of bodies and changes that happen all the time.

“There's people wanting the shirt and that can only make the team better. You always know there's someone coming after you and you have to do your job properly.”