GARY Bowyer insists he is not feeling the weight of expectation from City’s promotion bid.

Saturday’s goalless draw at Leyton Orient was greeted with a smattering of boos among the 997-strong away section.

The Bantams moved up to fifth with the point, although Bowyer admitted they must sharpen up in front of goal after failing to break down a side who have not won in 10 games.

But he dismissed the suggestion that City’s “big club” status in League Two brings added pressure.

Bowyer said: “It’s no different to when I was manager at Blackburn or at Blackpool. The expectancy is that it’s a game of football and you want to win it.

“It’s no different to any club, is it?

“That’s the objective no matter where your club is, what size it is or what part of the country it comes from.

“It was a fantastic effort (to see so many away fans) especially just before Christmas and we’re grateful to the support that we have.

“I didn’t hear (any boos) but we’ve picked up another point, clean sheet and we’ve moved up a place in the table.

“We’ve still got that game in hand and we’ll be ready to go again next Saturday.

“It’s a long season and we’re not even halfway yet.”

Strikers Aramide Oteh and James Vaughan had City’s best chances in a dour contest in which they did not have a corner. Orient created some spells of pressure but failed to register a shot on target.

“It was just that little bit more belief and care in the final third that we needed,” added Bowyer.

“When Remi got through, I was waiting for him to score. When he doesn’t, I was waiting for him to square it to Vaughany.

“We have been working on it. In the first half particularly, we got in behind them on several occasions which is something we have been looking to do but just needed a bit more care.

“It is something we need to improve.”

Leyton Orient claimed a first clean sheet since their last win in October. Bowyer had expected pumped-up opponents as the game was part of the build-up leading to what would have been the late Justin Edinburgh’s 50th birthday on Wednesday.

Both teams warmed up in t-shirts for the foundation set up to remember their former manager and there was a charity dinner afterwards.

Bowyer said: “I thought Justin’s presence was there the way his players went about it.

“It was good for Leyton Orient and they really put in a shift for Ross (Embleton) and the lads who are taking it at this moment in time.

“We spoke about it and made the players aware. We knew what to expect.

“Everyone connected with Leyton Orient conducted themselves magnificently for Justin.

“But we kept another clean sheet, that’s two on the trot. We’ve taken four points out of six and now we’ve got to recover and really go again next week back at home against Salford.”