PAUL Shanley has warned his Bradford Town side to keep their feet on the ground as they prepare to face a backlash from the rest of the Toolstation League First Division.

Bradford have hauled themselves into the mix at the right end of the table and the crowning glory of their six-match winning run came last weekend as Shanley’s men triumphed over league leaders Hengrove Athletic.

But the Bradford boss thinks that the hard work starts now for his side as he predicts a response to his team’s imperious form from their league counterparts.

“We’re full of confidence at the moment and we’ve got ourselves right up in that top six group,” said Shanley.

“Our aim now is to cement ourselves in the top four and be in the mix come March, April.

“We’ve been playing catch-up after a poor start to the season and we know that as quickly as it can go well for you, it can go bad too. A few losses could see us drop down to eighth or ninth.

“Every side will look at us and want to break Bradford’s unbeaten run so as hard as it’s already been, it’s going to get even harder.

“We can’t get carried away and we need to keep our feet on the ground to carry on playing as well as we have.”

Bradford dominated from the off last weekend and took the lead against Hengrove through Liam Milburn’s individual effort.

Nick Ridout made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time and when the visitors’ Ben Bament pulled a goal back midway through the second period, Sam Jordan restored Town’s two-goal cushion.

“We played like a side who’d won five in a row and we were on top straight away,” said Shanley.

“We created a lot of chances and if we’d scored five or six, I don’t think that they would have moaned about it – we hit the post twice and the bar once.

“It was definitely the best we’ve played in this run and long may it continue.”

Bradford are due to travel to local rivals Melksham Town in the quarter-finals of the Wiltshire Senior Cup this weekend.

Shanley said: “It’ll be a good chance to test ourselves against a side who are mid-table in the league above ourselves.”