CONNOR Wood’s new year resolution began with the first kick of the ball in pre-season.

City’s left back continues to flourish in a regular role in Gary Bowyer’s promotion plans.

Only keeper Richard O’Donnell has started more games than Wood, who has been one of the team’s most consistent performers.

And Wood can chart that rise in form back to returning in the summer following the misery of relegation.

His first full season of senior football provided the sharpest learning curve for a player City plucked from Leicester’s under-23 set-up.

But Wood can now feel the benefits from having it so tough so soon.

He said: “All I could take from last year was to try to turn it into a positive.

“To go through everything that happened and try to bounce back from it.

“It makes you stronger mentally. Being down there and dealing with the season we had as a team and individuals, the players that are still here have all come back from it well.

“The ones who were here last year have improved massively coming into this season.

“I definitely think I have and I’ve also learned a lot from the more experienced players we’ve got at the club.

“That’s a key thing in football to listen those with more experience and absorb all the information you get.

“Then it’s down to yourself with what you do with it.

“I feel in the past year or so I’ve taken it all on board and really improved my game quite well.”

Wood admits his outlook this season has completely changed from before. He is relishing the added responsibility from being picked week in, week out and the faith Bowyer is showing in him.

“Everyone can see the confidence in me,” he added. “That’s come from the gaffer, the players around me and from within myself.

“Confidence is massive in this game and when you’re playing with it, you almost feel untouchable when you go out there.

“I’m very happy with the way I’m playing and it’s a massive contrast from my mindset from last season.

“You’re always grateful for being given the chance to play and I think I’ve done well to cement a place in the team.

“I want to be one of the first few names on the team sheet. That’s why I came here.

“When I signed last summer, I wanted to get a full season under my belt and be in the first team where I will be playing pretty much every game.”

Shay McCartan’s “worldy” at Swindon stretched City’s unbeaten run to eight games and maintained the six-point deficit on the League Two leaders.

It is still ridiculously tight at the top as the fourth-placed Bantams head for Crawley – and Wood refuses to get too bogged down with all the machinations around them.

He said: “I’m not too focused on the table personally. I’ll have a look at it the odd time.

“But I’d rather concentrate on our own performances. If we’re picking up the points, we’re always going to be up there.

“You don’t need to be worrying about it as long as you do your own job properly.

“I’m feeling positive with how it is going at the moment. We’re still up there near the top and picking up points.”