Every game is a challenge from now until the end of the season
Assistant Manager Mark Grew says the top sides in League Two so far this season haven’t been the ones he had expected to be up there, though there is still plenty of times for things to change.
He said: “There are probably a few surprises. At the start of the season I quite fancied Oxford and Bristol Rovers and those sort of teams.
“Bristol Rovers have struggled, but Oxford are starting to go on a little run at the moment and it wouldn’t surprise me if they get in there.
“I always expected Chesterfield to get in the top four as well but up to now it hasn’t happened.
“I just look down below now and we have got teams coming up such as Wimbledon and Barnet and all of a sudden their results are getting really good.
“Whereas before we thought we had got a few easy teams to come, I am not so sure they are going to be easy, they are fighting for their lives now.
“Wimbledon have got some good results and Barnet have been fantastic in the last two or three weeks.
“Just before Christmas there may have been some weak sides in there, but don’t forget, now the transfer window is open they have strengthened up so I am not too sure now there are going to be any easy games.”
Neither Grew or boss Micky Adams believe there will be games where their opponents lie back and take whatever is thrown at them, they both know they face some really tough games regardless of who the opposition is.
“We are not taking anything for granted. We are not looking two or three weeks down the line, we are looking at Bradford City on Saturday.
“Along with the manager, I watched them at Crewe last night. Whether they play the same side on Saturday we don’t know.
“We have already played them twice so we know about their squad of players. They have got a very good squad and we are no illusions that it will be an easy game on Saturday.
“Their success in the cup competitions may have had an adverse effect on their league form. They have played an awful lot of games in the last four or five weeks and whether it will tell at the end of the season I don’t know.”
One thing is for sure, despite what happens in the Capital One Cup, the Bradford boss, along with his players, would love the opportunity to be playing their football in League One next season.
Grew said: “If you had asked Phil Parkinson at the start of the season, his priority will have been to get them into the next division and I would think that would still be his big priority.
“I can’t see them coming here with a really weakened side on Saturday and just giving us three points.”
“I have watched them a few times this season, and on Sky as well, and their performances against the bigger sides have been outstanding.”