Michael Flynn was up all night in agony before helping red-hot City extend their unbeaten run to seven games.

The influential midfielder notched the first goal in Saturday’s 3-0 home win over Chesterfield and then revealed how his preparations were ruined after being kept awake by a stiff neck.

Flynn, who felt the spasm after training on Friday, said: “It was touch and go for a while. I’d only had about an hour’s sleep because the shooting pain kept waking me up.

“I had to come in early Saturday morning for some strong pain-killers. We weren’t sure but it’s going to take a little bit more than that to keep me out.

“I’ve never taken anything for granted in life and somebody else could come in and do well and I’d be left kicking my heels.

“I want to play every game; start every game and do myself justice every game in a Bradford City shirt.

“This is a brilliant club that deserves to be higher than League Two and I’ve come here to help them get there.”

Scott Neilson, with his first goal in league football, and substitute Chris Brandon rounded off the victory which lifts City up to ninth ahead of tomorrow’s trip to bogey ground Morecambe.

Flynn said: “Chesterfield are a good team but I just felt, right from the start, we were outstanding.

“Easty (Simon Eastwood) and the back four were solid and Bully (Lee Bullock) was the unsung hero again. I certainly sing his praises and let him know after each game how well he’s done.

“We’re a young squad all coming together and we’ve got goals throughout the team. Sometimes we show a little bit of naivety but I’m sure we’ll learn through the course of the season.

“Nothing’s won in September but I think we’re going to go from strength to strength.”

City’s win was only their second in five attempts at Valley Parade this season and boss Stuart McCall admitted it was a significant result.

He said: “We knew we had to start winning our home games. If we’d come off again with a draw like we did against Burton then there would have been a bit of depression about the place.

“You enjoy these days because you don’t have many of them. There were a lot of good performances.

“There will be highs and lows throughout the season but the confidence grows with every game you go undefeated and play well. It’s very early days but it’s looking promising.”