Midfield player Gareth Whalley goes into tomorrow's game against Southampton hoping to get his first home start of the season.

As manager Chris Hutchings rings the changes to suit different opponents, Whalley has been in and out of the starting line-up, but accepts that is an inevitable part of the modern game and the squad system.

But Whalley, who scored City's midweek goal in the 1-0 Worthington Cup win at Darlington, said: "I have been in the starting line-up in all three away matches at Liverpool, Manchester United and Aston Villa, but I have been substitute in the three home games. So it would be nice to start a home game tomorrow.

"We have been chopping and changing around with different formations to suit different opponents. That is part of football nowadays. In every Premiership team you find players who are in and out of the side.

"Everyone feels they should be part of the team but it doesn't always work out like that. All you can do is your best and if you get in the team try to stick in it.

"It is every player's ambition to play in the Premiership. It is the best league in the world. That is why I joined Bradford to try to get into the Premiership with them. You pit yourselves against world class players every week in the top flight.

"I feel we are gaining confidence now we are in our second season in the Premiership. We have progressed from last season. We have still got the fight and the character that served us so well last time, but we have got more quality.

"We are also trying to play a better class of football which is the way to play in the Premiership.

"The players we have brought in like to get the ball down and play - defenders, midfield and strikers alike. So obviously we have to play to their assets.

"A key part of our game is trying to keep possession. If you give the ball away you find yourself always chasing after it.

"We lost to Southampton in both matches last season so it is important we get one over them tomorrow.

"We didn't perform well at their ground, and although the home game was a big match for us we didn't do as well as we can and lost 2-1. Defeat was a disappointment at that stage of the season when we needed the points to survive.

"It is still early in the season but you will look at certain games and know you need to get points out of them. This is one of them."