Mark Yeates sees nothing to fear from City’s daunting finish to the year.

Leaders Leyton Orient land at Valley Parade tomorrow to kick off a run that also features games against fellow play-off contenders Peterborough, Rotherham and Swindon.

But the Irishman, who is knocking on the door for a recall to Phil Parkinson’s starting plans, sees it as the opportunity for the Bantams to propel themselves into the pace-setting group.

Yeates said: “We know we’re coming up against some good sides but that’s why we’re in this league.

“We’re a good team too. People have seen how we’ve been playing and they are going to respect us and what we’re about.

“I don’t think we should go into any game at all with any fear factor. We’re at our best when we just worry about ourselves and show what we’re about.

“Do that over the Christmas period and we should come out of it with some positive results and hopefully plenty of points on the board.

“Then we can suddenly find ourselves in a really good spot. But it’s down to us and nobody else.”

Leyton Orient have set the example after opening the campaign with eight straight wins. Having blazed a trail, they still head the table on goal difference.

Yeates said: “I’ve played with some of the boys there like Kevin Lisbie and David Mooney. They weren’t even the front two first-choice players.

“They’ve kept a similar team the last couple of seasons and been a steady-away League One side.

“But for some reason this season, everything seems to be going for them now.

“They are riding on results. With each game you win, confidence builds a bit more and, before you know it, you’re top of the league.”

Yeates admits it has been hard to hide his frustration at being reduced to a back-up role since being dropped in October. But having worked with Parkinson at Colchester, the manager is used to his mood swings.

“At times I can show my frustration a bit too much to people and come across that I’m a bit too upset. It’s just that I want to play so much.

“That’s got to be the attitude of any lad that’s on the bench.

“The gaffer knows what I’m like. He’s known me since I was 19 years old.

“It’s a lot to do with wanting to play games. I love going out there and playing in front of fans and trying to express myself.

“The gaffer has no problem with that as long as it’s done in the right way.”

Having left Championship play-off finalists Watford in the summer, where he made 30 appearances last season, Yeates anticipated he would have been featuring more.

“Yeah, of course,” he added. “When you sign for a new club and you’re coming down a level, in your head you’re probably thinking you’ll play every week.

“The lads are a strong group and the gaffer has gone pretty much with his side from last season, other than maybe the first few games when I was in the side.

“People see what I’m capable of doing. I’m about making chances and I’ve got a few goals in my locker.

“Hopefully I’ll put myself in a position that makes it difficult for the gaffer and picking me is all he can do.”