IT COULD have been very different if the shot had been six inches to the right.

Had Marc McNulty’s near-post jab sneaked inside the Swindon post rather than rolling just wide, there might have been a collective spring in the step going into City’s blank week.

Instead the Bantams – and McNulty in particular – were left to rue another fruitless afternoon in the south.

Heads suitably shaken for training yesterday, Stuart McCall’s men can still gaze at a League One table where they continue to feature prominently.

Back-to-back away defeats should not overshadow a very satisfying four months.

But there will be that nagging feeling that it should be even better – and nobody will feel that more acutely than McNulty.

Like fellow deadline-day recruit Haris Vuckic, the Scot has had a stuttering time since arriving at Valley Parade at the end of August.

He was making his sixth City start at the County Ground and it was just the second time he had stayed in the line-up for successive games.

The lack of minutes has been an understandable frustration for a striker who came in with a reputation as a goal-sniffer.

McNulty has netted only once, against Southend in October, and admits he has not made the impact that he hoped for. Chances like the one that went begging on Saturday have been limited.

McNulty said: “People will see I’ve only scored once since August and wonder about me. I think that myself.

“I came here at the start of the season confident and to only have one goal is very disappointing.

“But the team have been flying, so I’ve not actually played a lot of minutes since I’ve been here. I’ve only had one complete 90 minutes in the Checkatrade Trophy at Morecambe.

“I can’t really moan because the boys have been doing brilliantly. Look at where the team are in the table.

“It’s one of those. Obviously it’s very frustrating because I want to be playing but Billy (Clarke), Jordy (Hiwula) and big Hans (James Hanson) have all been doing well and scoring.”

McNulty’s momentum has not been helped by parent club Sheffield United and the way the fixtures have fallen.

Having broken his duck with a cool finish against Southend, the next game could not come soon enough for him. Unfortunately it was the visit of the Blades, which prevented him from featuring.

Fast forward a couple of weeks and again he had to sit in the stands for the FA Cup clash with Accrington as Chris Wilder would not allow him to play. McNulty even made his own plea to Bramall Lane but that fell on deaf ears.

He admitted: “It’s been stop-start for me. I’ve tried to get a run going but for one reason or another, it’s just not happened.

“I first got in the team and picked up a knock, then I came back in and scored and thought I did really well. At that point you’re flying with confidence. I would have played again the next day if possible.

“But the fact it was against Sheffield slowed the momentum down and the boys did well.

“Then I thought I was going to play in the cup but they wouldn’t let me.

“That’s football and I’m not the only one that’s happened to. But of course it’s frustrating.

“But I’m still confident that there will be a point when I can get that run of games and will start scoring some goals.”

McNulty is due to stay the season with City but that is up for review in January. Wilder has already indicated that he will wait until then before deciding whether to exercise the recall clause with a forward who had just two late substitute outings when the Blades boss took over.

“To be honest, I don’t really know how it works,” said McNulty.

“When I went to Portsmouth last season, I don’t think there was a recall in it so I knew I was there for the whole year.

“But this time, with all the changes with the loan system, they’ve got the chance to take me back during the window.

“I’ve signed to the end of the season with Bradford but with the Sheffield manager saying he will decide in January, I guess I won’t know before.

“They are probably just covering their backs. You don’t wish anyone injuries but if you get one or two out, you never know what will happen.

“But just now I’m focused on Bradford and I want to do well here.”