KENNY Black believes Scunthorpe will go on the attack tonight – and reckons that will suit City.

Sides coming to Valley Parade often park the bus, with previous visitors Plymouth being the classic example as they stifled the Bantams in a 1-0 win.

The Iron arrive with one of the best defensive records in the division, having kept four clean sheets on the bounce.

But City assistant boss Black does not expect them to just sit back, given their talent going forward.

While former Bantam Josh Morris remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, Scunthorpe still have plenty of firepower having brought Lee Novak into their ranks this season.

Black said: “I think they will come and have a go. They have good players who can hurt you. They have a strong squad and their form in recent weeks has been consistent.

“Back-to-back victories against Northampton will certainly have helped them.”

Saturday’s 3-0 win at the Cobblers came on the back of an FA Cup replay win over them. Those results are within a sequence which has seen them win four of their last five league games which has taken them to fourth spot – just a point behind City.

On the visitors’ willingness to come and attack, Black said: “It makes it a little bit easier and I think we saw that on Saturday. There were two contrasting styles between playing Plymouth and Wigan.

“Wigan came out and had a go and it was really end to end on Saturday whereas the previous week Plymouth got back behind the ball and made it difficult to break them down – particularly when they got the goal.

“It will be great for the fans if it is an entertaining game but all we are concerned about really is the vitally important three points.”

Black is sure that returning favourite Rory McArdle well receive a warm reception tonight.

The defender said: “It will be strange but I’ve been there before as an opposing player. However, it will be the first time that I’ve been back there since leaving the club so it will be nice to see people there.

“We will be going there to do a job and you know what it’s like, once we cross the white line it’ll be down to business. We will be doing everything we can to try and put on another good performance after Saturday.”

Black said: “I’m sure he’ll get a great welcome from supporters. He was a very popular player with his team-mates and with supporters and one of many good professionals that we had at the club when we came. We were disappointed to lose him.”

Despite his departure, City have largely remained solid at the back, with Nat Knight-Percival’s combination with Matt Kilgallon one of the plus points of the season.

Black said: “They’ve been really consistent. Nat has had to play on the right hand side which is a little bit alien to him and Matt Kilgallon has shown his class and composure and more importantly the defensive qualities that he has.

"We had to defend well on Saturday and it is important to us that in the tight games we have that we have a good settled back four rather than having an inconsistent back four and having to chop and change."