CITY hope that the excitement surrounding Danny Rowe’s arrival will help get them back on the goal trail.

Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars take their six-game unbeaten run to basement side Southend tonight.

The Bantams clocked up their fourth clean sheet in that spell at leaders Cambridge in their first outing in 2021.

Now Sellars wants to see them add some goals when they face League Two’s bottom club – and is looking for new boy Rowe to provide the inspiration.

Sellars said: “It’s an area that we need to improve.

“Look at the defensive record – two conceded in six games. If we keep that up but add more goals, we’re in a really good place.

“Our aim is to improve going forward but also keep the solid structure behind the ball.

“We have created chances and have players there who have got goals in them.

“We’re hoping it does give us more goals going forward, especially with Danny Rowe’s addition as well.”

Rowe’s introduction has offset the absence of Lee Novak, who is again likely to miss out through injury at Roots Hall as well as midfielder Harry Pritchard.

Sellars added: “Rowey can give us a different type of goal with a lot of long-rangers.

“He’s got some shot on him with both feet – it’s not like he is one-footed either. He is so good at shifting left or right and then hitting straight away.

“When you see him outside the box shooting from 35 yards, imagine him shooting from 18 yards – it’s probably past the keeper before he can dive.

“We’re just excited and hopefully some of the players round him will take confidence as well.”

City have had successive goalless draws – separated by three weeks – since Novak scored the winner at Tranmere on Boxing Day.

“When you watch us, you don’t just think we’re keeping loads of players behind the ball,” said Sellars.

“We’re attacking and going for it. We’ve got four, five or six in and around the box and we’re looking to pen teams in.

“It’s unfortunate the last couple of games we’ve not managed to score but that’s something we are looking to improve.

“Defensively we’ve got to keep showing that discipline but just capitalise more in the final third. Look at the quality in the squad and there are goals there.”

Centre half Paudie O’Connor will continue to deputise as captain and the Irishman feels it is time for City to put down a marker against the team currently four places below.

He said: “We’ve been on the back of a good little run but we’re at the stage now where we know we’re a decent team.

“It’s up to us to start picking up points and climbing the table.

“We’ve games in hand but you look at the table and we’re still sat in 20th.

“On the flip side, I’m sure Southend will be up for it because they are in a relegation scrap.

“But we’re nowhere near where we want to be, so for us it’s a big three points and we’ve got to go there thinking like that.”

Sellars added: “You can be favourites but still have that underdog mentality in your brain to do everything in your powers to get the win. This could be one of our toughest games.”