THE City feelgood factor goes on after a third straight win took them up to 11th in League Two.

Callum Cooke’s thumping penalty proved enough to get past a stubborn Leyton Orient at Valley Parade last night.

Here are a few things we noticed as the Bantams battled away to eventually get the job done again.

BENCH BOOST

Phil Parkinson always used to say that you could tell the strength of the squad by looking at the substitutes. Similarly, Stuart McCall bemoaned the lack of options earlier in the season when he cast an eye at the dug-out when injuries bit.

The January window has bolstered the resources that Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars have at their disposal. There are potential match-winners to call on from the bench now.

You could see the impact that Ollie Crankshaw and Andy Cook had in getting City going when they were summoned just after the hour mark.

OFF LIMITS

The last couple of games have seen City batten down the hatches defensively once again by restricting opponents to mere scraps in front of goal.

Cheltenham may be flying high but they managed only one header on target as the Bantams did the job in Gloucestershire.

Leyton Orient could not even force Sam Hornby into a single regulation save as they were kept at arm’s length. Niall Canavan’s arrival in the back four has certainly added more valuable experience and organisation.

MUTED ROWE

It was not Danny Rowe’s night after he was recalled to the strike role ahead of Andy Cook.

Rowe looked subdued compared to his usual rampaging self – and wasted a glorious chance to break the stalemate early in the second half.

He was a bit hesitant when Sam Hornby’s long clearance picked him out with only the keeper to beat and his shot lacked conviction.

Cook’s presence, when he replaced him, gave City an added edge and got them further up the field. It’s shaping into a real battle between the two of them for that starting slot.

COOKE-ING ON GAS

Callum Cooke continues to be the stand-out performer of the Trueman and Sellars regime.

The midfielder is loving every minute of being given the opportunity to play more advanced and link the attacks.

Back-to-back man-of-the-match performances underline the confidence he possesses right now – and you won’t see a more emphatic penalty than that all season.

He joked afterwards that if the ball hadn’t gone in, it would still be travelling now! But there was never any doubt where that spot-kick was headed.”

GROUND CONTROL

“I know it’s a cliché but we’re not looking any further than the next game.”

It’s become the post-game mantra from Mark Trueman whenever a mention of the top seven enters the conversation.

The fans are understandably getting excited with City’s magnificent current run of results but the message from the new management won’t change.

Trueman and Sellars have shown already that nothing fazes them and the outside buzz about the changing league position is unlikely to knock them out of their stride.