STUART McCall was pleased to City negotiate a potentially tricky afternoon at Coventry to maintain their promotion push.

Goals from Alex Jones and Jordy Hiwula early in the second half killed off the rock-bottom Sky Blues and spoiled Mark Robins’ first game back in charge.

A third win in four games lifted the Bantams to fourth – and within two points of second.

McCall said: “You never want to put negatives in players’ heads but we mentioned that the surface wouldn’t be suitable to how we play normally. We also had the new manager syndrome.

“It was a scrappy game but we said at half-time that it would be a bit of quality that wins it for us. We showed that in the second half with both goals.

“We had a decision to make when Gilly (Alex Gilliead) came off but we went with four forwards. It’s a big park and once again the two lads in the middle (Josh Cullen and Romain Vincelot) covered every blade of grass on it.

“We had that purple patch and when you’re on top in games, you’ve got to capitalise and we did that.”

Gilliead tweaked a hamstring and will miss Tuesday’s trip to Charlton. Jones is also a major doubt after limping off with a dead leg.