GRAHAM Alexander insists City need the points today just as much as relegation battlers Grimsby.

The Bantams make the lunchtime trip to face the Mariners, who are embroiled in the scrap for League Two survival.

Grimsby are just three points above the drop zone but Alexander says there will be no change in approach from his side.

Friday’s win ended a four-game losing run and the Bantams boss wants to see the same intensity at Blundell Park.

“We need to be scrapping for every point,” he said.

“I don’t see a difference when we go into games, whether it’s top of the league or the bottom.

“The challenge is us. We’re not playing at a consistent level to say, ‘right, against these we do this’.

“We have to get our best game going and do it consistently well, every three days as it’s been. We haven’t managed to do that.

“That’s what we have to try and do, get a consistency about our best levels, understand where it comes from and keep reproducing it.

“If we do that, then we can maybe think about where teams are in the league. For me, we have to focus on getting our best game.”

Andy Cook and Kevin McDonald are likely to miss out again as Alexander looks for City to carry on where they left off in the much-needed victory over Tranmere.

“There was a lot of energy spent on there and they are going to have to do the same again.

“We can’t let that performance not flow into the Grimsby game. It’s really important to us.

“I thought there was an edge to that game. We had a massive point to prove and Tranmere have been in really good form of late, beating Mansfield and Wrexham.

“I thought we managed that really well and showed what we’re about.

“Our barometer is us, regardless of who we play. We have to perform to the levels we’ve just shown.”

Bobby Pointon’s impressive display in first start since mid-January has left many fans questioning why Alexander has not used him more often.

He has promised the chances will come for the 20-year-old if he keeps producing.

“We’ll give him the opportunities and he has to take them,” added Alexander.

“He knows he’s a young player and there are a lot of players here that have proved themselves on this level many times.

“Sometimes you have to be patient, keep working hard and make the most of that opportunity when it comes.

“All young players are like that. That’s how I had to earn my spot.

“It wasn’t just given me on a plate. I had to wait and be ready for it – and Bobby was ready for it.

“There isn’t one player I put on that pitch that I don’t want to do well. But I do have to manage 22, 25 players.”