MARK Trueman applauded in-form Callum Cooke after his penalty kept the Bantams bandwagon rolling.

Cooke blasted home from the spot with 10 minutes left to break Leyton Orient’s resistance at Valley Parade.

It was City’s fifth win out of six – and ensured Trueman and Conor Sellars made a victorious start in their permanent role as joint bosses.

Trueman said: “Callum showed great composure to put it into the top corner. But I was confident when he picked up the ball because I know how good a technician he is.

“He has been playing well since day one for us. He’s got great technique and shows we are playing with confidence.

“We’re delighted with the progress Cookie is making and it’s up to him to keep maintaining that.”

City had been denied up to that point by a stubborn Orient, who had drawn their previous three games.

Danny Rowe missed a good chance at the start of the second half and substitute Ollie Crankshaw forced a superb save from keeper Lawrence Vigouroux.

“They made it hard for us and it was always going to take that moment of quality,” added Trueman.

“We are always learning, improving as a team and when different teams come to us, we have got to find ways to unlock doors.”

City are up to 11th – their highest position since the first month of the season – and are now five points away from the play-offs.

But Trueman will not get wrapped up in the growing excitement among the fans.

“We take it one game at a time. I know it’s very cliched but we’ve said that right from the start and it’s not going to change.

“Belief comes from confidence and a winning mentality, we have got that at the moment.

“We are hard to beat, hard to break down. We are delighted with how we are defending and now it is up to us to improve in possession.”

He also played down any extra attention in their first game since being given the Valley Parade hot-seat full-time.

“We don’t feel that pressure. We have confidence in this group of players and it’s up to us to try to maintain it.”

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