MARK Hughes has challenged City to keep up the charge as they aim to wipe out the gap with League Two’s automatic promotion places tonight.

The Bantams head for Walsall targeting a sixth win in seven games - which would move them on to the same points as Stevenage in third.

Hughes is thinking of making changes after the impact the subs made in Saturday’s last-gasp victory over Colchester.

But he expects no dip in intensity as they close in on League Two’s top bracket.

Hughes said: “It’s a big effort. We had the disappointment of the Barrow game but that’s five in six.

“It’s the best period we’ve had in the league so far and that’s really encouraging at this stage of the season. We need to keep it going.

“We’re looking at the table and know exactly what we have to do.

“We just go into fixtures, get through them, put them to bed, hopefully get three points as we have been doing of late and then look to the next one.

“We’ve got a big couple of games away again. It seems like we’re constantly away at the moment.

“But ours away form is exceptional so we shouldn’t have any fear or anxiety about it.”

Scott Banks is pushing for a first start for three months after scoring the second goal on Saturday.

Harry Chapman, Ryan East and former Walsall midfielder Emmanuel Osadebe also gave Hughes a nudge when they came on.

“Everybody is together,” added Hughes. “You saw the reaction at the end of the game.

“The team itself is buoyant, staff are jumping around, lads that haven’t been able to get on the pitch are engaged and those who’ve been taken off aren’t disappointed.

“That shows a really strong group at the moment.

“Even if I make changes, it won’t affect that. Maybe people will be disappointed to be left out but it’s about getting where we want to as a group.

“Only a few weeks ago we were maybe six, seven or eight points away from those automatics. We’re very close now so we’ve just got to keep going.

“It doesn’t matter what sport you play or what level, momentum is huge.

“We’ve got it right now and we’ve got to work exceptionally hard to make sure we maintain it.”

Osadebe will be particularly keen to face the club where he played 91 times before joining City last summer. His half-hour appearance against Colchester was his longest since the double leg break.

Hughes said: “It was great for Manny. I was really pleased he came on and had an impact.

“He did really well as did Easty, who kept us ticking over and probing and prompting from a deeper position.

“I also needed to get the likes of Banksy and Chappy on - people with craft and the ability to take people on and create something. I think that helped us towards the end.

“Banksy was unfortunate because he had an injury. But he’s starting to look stronger and he’s very much coming back into my thoughts.”

Walsall have not won in nine league games but seven of those have been draws. The City boss anticipates another tight contest for his side.

“Teams in this league have great respect for what we can do and what we’ve done this year.

“More often than not, I’ve said before, they usually raise their performance level from where they usually are. We face that all season.

“But at the moment we are good enough to take games away from opposition, so we’ve got to keep that going.”