ALEX Jones aims to prove Birmingham wrong by firing City towards the Championship.

The new recruit was not on the scoresheet in Saturday's 2-0 win over Chesterfield, a result that prompted yesterday's sacking of Danny Wilson as Spireites manager.

Yet Jones played his part with a lively debut as back-to-back victories lifted Stuart McCall's men into fourth spot.

The 22-year-old striker, signed for an undisclosed fee, reckons he has joined a second-tier club in waiting and is confident the Bantams can deliver the Championship football that he was never offered at St Andrew's.

Jones said: "It was probably the most frustrating time in my career at Birmingham, especially last season. I was doing all I could in the under-21s. I was top goal scorer and playing well and thought it was only going to be a matter of time before I was given an opportunity.

"But that didn't happen and I came out on loan this season. I've managed to do okay and show everyone what I'm about. For me at this stage of my career, it's about playing games and that's why I wanted to come to Bradford.

"They get similar crowds to Birmingham, who are halfway in the Championship. That shows how big the club is. That was one of the main reasons for me coming here to challenge for promotion."

McCall had not planned to start Jones but made the call after James Hanson had suffered a slight knock in training.

The City boss said: "Alex is not one that's going to be fazed with big crowds. He's got a good temperament and mentality.

"He's a good age and not really a risk for the money we've paid. We know he wants to play as a number nine and that's what we've brought him for."

Jones was delighted to be back in his natural role as centre forward after playing mainly on the right during his half-season spell with Port Vale.

He said: "I prefer the system here because there are so many bodies up front with you. That makes it easier to link up.

"It's nice to play down the middle and get familiar with that position again. At Port Vale, most of the goals I scored were by myself and they didn't really create any clear-cut chances.

"Here they create a shed-load every game and hopefully I can start to put a few of them away. It's a great feeling to have as a striker that the lads behind are going to create things for you."

City could add a young winger to the squad within a couple of days. McCall has left that in the hands of chief scout Greg Abbott but admitted: "I don't think it's going to be one to blow your socks off."

The Bantams have been linked with Ched Evans of Chesterfield and he looked a dangerous threat for the visitors, hitting the post with their best chance.

McCall has constantly played down talk of the striker, who is likely to command a sizeable fee because the cash-strapped Spireites have a year's option on his current contract.

When asked about Evans again, the City boss said: "I don't like talking about other team's players. He's Danny Wilson's player at this moment in time but I would say he put in a really good performance."

Ritchie Humphreys was placed in caretaker charge of Chesterfield following the dismissal of Wilson as manager.