Bantams manager Phil Parkinson spoke to BBC Radio Leeds after his side's 4-0 League One win over Carlisle at the Coral WIndows Stadium, Parkinson saying that City got the quick start they were looking for:
“It was a great start for us, going into the game we were aware that Carlisle had a tough game on Wednesday and had gone into extra-time, and we had been able to rest a lot of players on Tuesday. We wanted a quick start to really pin them in in their half and get them on the back foot. What we set out to do worked perfectly for us and for the first half an hour I thought we were outstanding.
“We got a bit sloppy for the last 15 minutes of the first half, but maybe we could forgive the lads for that. In the second-half I thought the professionalism was good and realistically we could have scored more. Scoring goals in bursts can be achieved at home if you are positive in everything you do and in playing to the strengths of our front two.
“The energy of the team was great and we played proper football today, we didn’t look to overplay. If we went in behind then when we it came out we went in their half and it was good to watch. I am pleased but we certainly want to keep their feet on the ground because we were aware that Carlisle had a tough game on Wednesday and they are probably a lot better than their first two results have shown. But, equally we have got to be pleased with the first two results we have had in the league.
“It was a terrific opening goal from Mark Yeates and it is always good when you are making your home debut to get a goal and to play well. Because, obviously Mark has played today and I left Kyel Reid out because he played on Tuesday, Kyel is a big favourite of the supporters, which is understandable because he is going to be a big player for us this year. But, it is equally important that Mark shows everybody what he is capable of, he is a different type of wide player to Kyel but he is equally effective. But, what we need is a whole squad who can compete for places.
“Nahki Wells was great, James Hanson has shown that he has got quality with his feet, which he also showed last season. He is not just a big lad who is going to win aerial battles, although he is good at that, he has got quality in both feet and he passed that ball into the net for his goal, and it was a terrific goal from him."
“We could have had more goals really, the one where Yeates danced through and Nahki has had two or three terrific opportunities. But, I was more pleased with the way that the back four defended and made sure we got the clean sheet. Because, as much as strikers get confidence by scoring, defenders want clean sheets and so do goalkeepers.
“I thought we stuck to our job and were very professional, and I said to the lads at half-time that we wanted to see a real professional performance in the second 45 minutes. We were 3-0 up at Wembley, it is sometimes not easy to play in those circumstances because people think it is just going to happen. But, there is no space here for people sitting back and resting, we want to keep positive and do the right things.
“I was pleased for Gary Jones to get a goal, obviously Nahki’s pass for it was great, that has shown a real maturity in his play that he has got in a fantastic position, maybe he would have a good himself last year, or the early part of last year, but he is a team player as well. It was a fantastic pass and Gary has run 70 yards to put it in the back of the net, so he has got his rewards.
“We are pleased with four points from the first two games, but we are keeping it low profile and I think that is important. We have had a good start, we have got a really difficult game next week at Port Vale, we will have a good week’s training and we will go there ready to give them a really good game.
“We have to remember that we came up against a team today who had gone to extra-time on Wednesday and we rested a lot of players. You could visibly see that and so on the day a lot of things fell in our favour so we are not going to get fooled by it. Carlisle are a far better team than their first two results suggest and now we have got to look of work to do on the training pitch to keep improving, and we will do.”