GRAHAM Alexander insists City must be on it from the off after being handed a testing start to their League Two campaign.

The Bantams travel to play-off semi-finalists MK Dons on opening day before facing Salford at Valley Parade.

“The first two are definitely against two clubs that will expect to be competing at the top end,” said the City boss.

“Then you’ve got Carlisle soon after that as well, who won promotion two years ago.

READ MORE: City's 2024/2025 League Two fixture list in full

“But if you’re serious about your ambitions you can’t look at any fixture and step back and recoil from it.

“They are the games in front of you and you’ve got to deal with them.”

Milton Keynes are among the early promotion favourites with the bookies. But City are also aiming to be up there after missing out on the top seven by one point last time.

Alexander added: “I’m sure they are looking at us in a similar vein.

“You can look around the division and probably identify the ones that would have strong ambitions to be at the top end of the league.

“That’s not being disrespectful to anyone because I’m sure they are all sitting there with positive thoughts.

“But there are teams that have been at a higher level or have bigger infrastructures or bigger budgets. You can identify those.

“Even though Salford, for instance, were quite low down for their aspirations, you know the ambition there is the same as ours.

“Carlisle’s will be the same as ours and they will be there.

“But you’ve seen teams that have been promoted in the last two years and it gives everyone in that division hope that they can make it a special year.”

City must also deal with the early threat of EFL new boys Bromley who will still be on a high when they make their first visit to Valley Parade three games in.

Alexander knows how they will be feeling after steering Salford out of non-league.

“Bromley won a lot of games to get promotion and all promotion winners go into the next season on a massive high with good momentum.

“There will be players in their squad who probably haven’t played league football.

Bromley celebrate their play-off final victory at WembleyBromley celebrate their play-off final victory at Wembley (Image: PA)

“I remember experiencing it myself when we brought Salford into the football league.

“The squad was packed with lads who hadn’t played in the league and the emotion in pre-season was sky high. They were so excited about it.

“We expect to face a similar sort of opponent in Bromley when they come here. But we’ll face that all season through.

“In League Two, squads change, managers change and it’s not like the Premier League where you can pretty much put your finger on who’s going to be where.

“This is a much more open division. We just have to make sure our A game is ready for whoever we play.

“The consistency we are searching for over 10 months, you can’t pick and choose the games. You’ve got to be on it for each one.

“The fixtures coming out brings the season into focus. It whets the appetite.

“Everyone has got their special dates when they look through the fixtures, the Christmas period and stuff like that.

“It’s straight into it. There is no easing-in period.

“We’re going into the first game against potentially one of the favourites – but I’d like to think they are thinking the same.”