Paul Jewell says his Bradford City side will use their blank fortnight to top up fitness levels to boost their battle for Premiership survival.

The Bantams are without a game due to the FA Cup quarter-finals taking place with the home clash against Aston Villa on Saturday, February 26, their next outing.

City are about to enter the most crucial phase of the season with their Premier-ship fate to be decided in the next 13 games.

Jewell has been heartened by his side's form over the last three games with City picking up six points and scoring nine goals.

This represents a big improvement on the club's previous 11 games which yielded just seven goals and seven points.

And the City boss is determined his side will build on the encouraging displays in that trio of games.

He said: "It is important that heads don't go down because we lost at West Ham. We know that as an attacking force we are getting better.

"With us not having a game this weekend we will mix training up a bit.

"The players have been in both days although some were involved in last night's reserve match.

"We will probably give the players the weekend off but tomorrow we intend having a very physical session under the supervision of our fitness trainers.

"What happens is down to us.

"We tell the fitness trainers what we want and they design the training sessions.

"Having no game this weekend is an opportunity to do the more physical training."

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