CITY’S players are vying for top spot in League Two – and on the club’s own leader board.

Gary Bowyer has revved up competition among his squad by setting up charts for goals and assists at the training ground.

Seven different players have netted in the last four games to fire the Bantams up to third spot.

As they prepare to face free-scoring Crawley at Valley Parade tomorrow, Bowyer revealed the added incentive within the group.

Bowyer said: “We’ve got a leader board for goals and one for assists. It’s something we put up regularly.

“It’s just a little bit of extra motivation to get yourself on there by contributing.

“When we put it up on Tuesday, you could see all the lads that have scored and it’s really pleasing.

“There’s no point in a defender going up for a corner if they’re not going to try to score a goal. Otherwise they might as well stay back there and save their energy.

“Kelvin Mellor scored seven for me in League Two as a full back (with Blackpool).

“Fortunately for us, we’ve got lots of people wanting to score and being able to as well.

"It's credit to all the lads. Everyone is part of the squad and they understand that - they all will play their part this season.”

Hope Akpan has been on target in back-to-back league games as the former Crawley midfielder continues to respond to a meeting with his manager demanding to get more out of him.

The Bantams boss added: “Hope’s got two in two now and we want him to continue to build and gain confidence from that.

“It’s come about from the extra work that he’s putting in on the training ground.

“It was agreed between the pair of us and (fitness coach) Ben Rome as well. He then carries it on and drives it.

“We set about a month ago getting back to the levels that I know Hope is capable of because I worked with him before when he was in the Championship.

“Credit to him, he’s gone about it himself and keeps doing it.

“With any player, if I see something then you’ve got to be brutally honest with them. It helps him and it helps the team and that’s what we’re here for."

Ben Richards-Everton is back from his ban and Mellor is fit to return. Latest recruit Chris Taylor also comes straight into contention.

Having signed Taylor for a third time in his career to make it 16 recruits at Valley Parade now, Bowyer is already casting an eye towards the mid-season transfer window.

“You have to do it," he said. "It’s part of the job.

“You never know who becomes available in January who wasn’t at the beginning.”