JOHN Kear has expressed pride in his Bradford Bulls side for their efforts in 2019, insisting that there were only two games in which he felt his players did not perform.

There have been a handful of dud games for the Odsal outfit this season, notably a 42-4 stuffing at the hands of Featherstone Rovers in May, which in hindsight proved vital in the play-off race.

There was also a poor 34-34 home draw with a struggling Swinton Lions. After that game, Kear blasted: “I would rather not say what I thought about that performance. If I said to you what I think it would be bleeped out.

“Too many players came here thinking the two points were already in the ledger, and that is disrespectful to Swinton and they got what they deserved in all honestly.”

But those performances were few and far between, and Kear says his squad are intent on ending the season on a high ahead of Sunday’s trip to tackle Rochdale Hornets on Sunday.

The Bulls head into the clash on the back of three successive wins over Barrow Raiders, Dewsbury Rams and Sheffield Eagles.

Sunday’s opponents Rochdale are preparing for life in League One in 2020 but the Bradford boss is wary of the threat of a team who have nothing to lose.

“We set that target of four wins in a row to be in with a chance of play-offs, we still have our own pride to play for to finish the season on a high,” said Kear.

“I am delighted with what the players have come up with this season, there are only two real performances I am upset with.

“Some players we know are going to other clubs so this will be the last time this group will play together, they owe it to themselves to put in a performance out of respect for their mates and be respectful to the Bulls fans.

“When you are playing for points, you want to finish as high as we can. The fact that we can finish sixth means a lot to me and the players. It will be a credit to League One that the two promoted teams have taken the league by storm.”

“It will be Rochdale’s last hurrah, they've nothing to lose and what we have to do is prepare for them to be good.”