DEREK Adams reckons high-flying City have had it tougher than any team in League Two so far.

Saturday’s impressive come-from-behind win at Mansfield made it three in a row for the second-placed Bantams.

Adams was pleased with the strength of character after bouncing back from 2-1 with Andy Cook claiming the late winner at his former club.

That made it 10 points out of 12 from four league games – and a tricky run of opening fixtures.

Adams said: “We’ve probably had the toughest start of any of the teams in the division.

“We’ve been away to Exeter, went to Nottingham Forest in the cup, away to Mansfield and next we’re at Leyton Orient.

“We’ve also had Stevenage at home in midweek who were undefeated so we’ve had a very difficult start and we’ve coped well with that.

“The dressing room is fantastic. The togetherness, which we started in pre-season training with the hard work on the running track, has kept on going.”

City are braced for bad news over Lee Angol’s hamstring injury amid fears that it could be as serious as the one that kept him out for the second half of last season.

Adams is considering a potential replacement in the remaining eight days of the transfer window. Doncaster's Omar Bogle is one rumoured name after the League One club confirmed they are trying to move him on.

The City boss has already spoken about squeezing out what is still available in the player budget for two possible recruits, including the attacking midfielder he has been looking for.

The free midweek will come in handy on that front as much as the opportunity to rest up with the number of injuries in the squad.

“It’s come at a good time,” he added. “We’ve had a difficult start and this week will be getting us physically prepared for the Leyton Orient game.”

Callum Cooke was taken off towards the end after claiming two assists but Adams confirmed it was a precautionary measure.

“Callum just got a dead leg. He said he could have come back on but I didn’t want to allow it and quickly made the change.

“He became better in the second half as the game stretched and opened up.

“We looked very strong later in the game with (Alex) Gilliead’s runs, (Charles) Vernam’s runs, (Ollie) Crankshaw’s runs and Cooke getting forward.”

Yann Songo’o played his first full competitive game and Adams was delighted how he kept going.

“I don’t know he’s got through but he has. He is a machine and been able to get through the 90 minutes.

“Should he have? Probably not but this boy has got great mental strength.

“Beside Elliot Watt they were good and I swapped it and brought in Gareth Evans, who I thought was very good when he came on and helped us.”

Adams was also asked about whether football players should be made to take the vaccine to help control Covid numbers.

He said: “We’ve obviously asked the players to get vaccinated. But it’s a personal choice and it’s the same all over the country.

“We’ve asked them to but can’t do any more than that. We can’t force anyone to get vaccinated.

“There is a number who don’t want to get vaccinated for a reason and we have to get on with that.”