GRAHAM Alexander says City must maintain the right mindset to take advantage of Valley Parade.

City have taken seven points from the first three home games – and they could have won them all if the “ghost goal” against Salford had been spotted.

Having finished last season with three home wins on the bounce – their best run since February 2021 – there are signs that the Valley Parade record might be picking up.

“It has maybe been the difference in previous seasons at not being successful,” admitted Alexander.

“We didn’t want to take anything from our away form. We were the third best team in the division last year away from home.

“But we obviously had to improve things at home.

“We had to dissect what we could control and improve that and not focus on the rest.”

City, who host fourth-placed Wimbledon at the weekend, have to learn not to get bogged down by opponents trying to turn the big crowd against them with spoiling tactics.

Boss Alexander added: “If there was game management by the opposition or decisions from officials, we cannot focus on those.

“We must focus on our home mindset, how we concentrate on the game and things we have to do within that.

“If we can control those better in our thoughts when under pressure and manage games better ourselves, that’s a way of making our home form strong.

“The players have really put that message into practical use at the end of last season and the start of this.

“We’re only talking six league games. But it’s a positive start on that side of it.

“There’s still another 20 (home) games to go but the lads should get confidence from what we’ve done so far.”