City rattled up their biggest league win for nearly seven years – only to be told: You’ve got to do more.

Stuart McCall’s men saw off Morecambe 4-0 at Valley Parade to claim their first victory for a month.

Goals from Paul McLaren, Michael Boulding, Nicky Law and Barry Conlon from the penalty spot ended the year in style to put City in third spot.

But the winning margin was incredibly harsh on the Lancashire visitors – and McCall was not fooled.

He said: “We were very poor first half and could only get better. But it’s strange how football works.

“We played better at Brentford and got nothing and we were better at Lincoln on Boxing Day, when we only drew 0-0.

“We’ve got to play better than that and were sloppy for long periods. But we will have the three points all day long and it takes us into the new year on a high.”

McCall switched to a 4-3-3 formation, bringing in Dean Furman to support McLaren and Law in central midfield after their exertions at Lincoln 48 hours earlier. But City took a while to come to grips with the new shape and were under the cosh for a long time before Boulding’s decisive second goal – his tenth of the campaign.

McCall added: “We never really got the ball in the right areas and were very fortunate to come in at half-time leading, without a doubt.

“Morecambe didn’t create that many chances but they were certainly in the ascendancy and we weren’t at the races.

“We needed to finish the year on a positive note and obviously the scoreline is very flattering. But it’s the third clean sheet on the bounce which I’m pleased about and we had to defend a lot of set-pieces.

“The ball was like a magnet to Graeme Lee’s head and Barry as well. We know there are so many goals scored in this league from free-kicks and corners so you’ve got to defend them well.

“Sometimes when you win 4-0 that gets glossed over but it was very important.”

Morecambe were left cursing a great chance to equalise which Danny Carlton squandered on the stroke of half-time.

Boss Sammy McIlroy moaned: “I’ve been in football a long time and I cannot believe that scoreline. I thought we played some fantastic stuff sometimes.

“Stuart McCall was man enough to admit to me afterwards that it was the wrong scoreline, though obviously it’s easier to say when you’ve come out on top.

“But Bradford have got quality players like Steve Jones, who was a Northern Ireland player with me, and big Barry Conlon. And I thought Graeme Lee was outstanding – I tried to sign him with a couple of clubs but unfortunately we can’t pay those wages.”

  • City beat Crewe by the same score in the FA Cup two years ago. But they have not won by that many in a league match since thrashing Gillingham 4-0 in February 2002.