CITY moved within two points of the play-offs with a third win on the bounce.

But Graham Alexander was not thinking about the picture above them in an increasingly-tight League Two table.

Calum Kavanagh scored the only goal to see off basement side Sutton at Valley Parade this afternoon and follow up the wins against Wrexham and MK Dons.

Alexander said: “We’ve just got to focus on what we can do. Looking at all the permutations that could happen between now and the end of the season would be ridiculous.

“All we’ve got to do is look at what’s in front of our nose and try to win the next game.”

City will head into Wednesday’s Bristol Street Motors Trophy semi-final against Wycombe in confident mood after a real battle in typically testing conditions.

Alexander added: “It was a difficult match against a difficult opponent. We’ve seen that from a couple of their previous results.

“Wrexham were made to work exceptionally hard to win against them during the week and we’ve had to do the same again today.

“We deserved to win 100 per cent. We had the better opportunities and should have scored in the first half and we defended the pressure they put on extremely well.

“Any set-piece from 10 yards of the halfway line or throw-in from 40 yards out is coming in your box. They’ve got some good-sized boys, they’re athletic and play to a system but I think we managed that well.”

City kept a clean sheet for the fifth game in a row – the last four in the league – with Sam Walker pulling off a couple of important saves.

“We’ve got to give ourselves a base where we’re not chasing,” said the Bantams chief. “That’s what we’ve been guilty of, certainly at Valley Parade.

“We’ve gone all at it right from minute one and the opposition has got a goal early, piling more pressure on us and making it even more difficult for us to get going as an attacking force.

“Having a bit more control over ourselves in the first 15-20 minutes has helped us settle into a game and not given the opposition anything to build from.

“We know we have players that have those quality moments to score.”

Kavanagh struck from a speedy counter-attack that began with Walker quickly releasing the ball to Brad Halliday. Clarke Oduor then threaded a ball through for the striker to score in successive games.

Alexander said: “It was a good way to win the game ultimately. We probably had easier opportunities but it was a fantastic goal from back to front.”

With Richie Smallwood suspended, Alexander used Sam Stubbs in a midfield role - the first time the defender had done that in his career.

"He's got the attributes. He's competitive and I told him to go out and play like Sam Stubbs not like Kevin McDonald, Richie Smallwood or Alex Gilliead.

"He works exceptionally hard and deserves opportunities and I thought he was superb."