MATT Kilgallon believes the League One plaudits are proof that City mean business again.

The Bantams are running into form going into today's tasty Yorkshire derby against Rotherham.

Kilgallon, one of the stand-out performers so far, can sense the team are beginning to click after adapting to another summer of change – and their rivals have noticed it.

"I think every team we have played against always say we are the best team they have faced," said the experienced defender.

"Bristol Rovers was a really good performance and probably our best of the season so far. It was good that it was on Sky and we put a few markers down for the people who were watching.

"I think they all know what we are like at home and that we can really play some good stuff. But we didn't really do that against Blackburn or Blackpool.

"We got a win against Blackpool but we were miles better against Bristol. We have new players getting used to the stadium and not a lot of lads have played in front of 20,000 every home game.

"It is new for them but I think they are starting to relish it now."

At 33, Kilgallon is the oldest player in a City squad that is considerably younger than before and he is enjoying the added responsibility of cajoling his team-mates.

He remembers learning from the likes of Michael Duberry and Paul Butler at Leeds and is now passing on his own advice.

Communication is key for Kilgallon, who said: "The main thing when you get older is the talking and organising. It comes a lot easier.

"When I was younger, I had someone doing that for me and it was all about listening and trying my best. Now it is the other way around and I am talking to all the other lads and keeping them concentrating.

"When I was at Leeds, Michael Duberry wasn't getting into the team and was playing a lot of reserve games to keep himself fit.

"He spoke through the whole match and he would shout at me if I didn't tell him that someone was on his shoulder or whatever.

"Then I played with Paul Butler when I was young. He was a big figure who spoke all the time and made me do it as well.

"When I got to Sheffield United with Chris Morgan, we were both very loud and it just came naturally then.

"I played with John O'Shea at Sunderland and he was a good talker. I wouldn't be able to be quiet now."

Kilgallon's header at Peterborough ended a two-year wait for a goal, having last scored for Blackburn at Birmingham in April 2015.

It also made up for the one that got away at Walsall, when his effort was changed to a Luke Leahy own goal.

Kilgallon said: "Macca (Tony McMahon) has been putting some lovely balls in at the minute. It is just about us getting on the end of them.

"It was nice to get back on the scoresheet. Getting back playing and scoring – it's all good."

Stuart McCall felt his City side did not score often enough from set-pieces last season.

Now Kilgallon sees a growing threat from corners and free-kicks, with Nathaniel Knight-Percival, Charlie Wyke and Romain Vincelot all making their mark.

He said: "We have a bit of height in the team now. Romain attacks it well and Percy, Chaz and me, so we have got four good targets in there.

"We all have our certain places where we need to run if they put the ball in there.

"It's starting to come together as a team. We had a little bit of a slow start. We were winning games but not playing that well.

"But I thought that was quite a good sign actually. Now we are starting to gel and play some really good stuff and it looks promising."