It hasn't quite been the start to the campaign that Bradford were hoping for after lining up among the pre-season title favourites.

  The Bantams currently sit 21st in the standings, although they are only five points off the play-offs, after stumbling to a disappointing opening in manager Peter Taylor's first full season in charge of the club.

Several summer signings have failed to find their feet early on and now former England international Lee Hendrie and Manchester United youngsters Oliver Gill and Reece Brown have joined the club in recent weeks to try and add some extra spark to the squad.

Those new faces should provide some extra belief to the fans with a bunched mid-table meaning that the top seven is still within striking range.

A 0-0 draw at Rotherham, one of the early leaders, in midweek has quickly helped take the focus off the 2-0 weekend defeat at Carling Cup heroes Northampton and Taylor thinks better times are ahead.

"I was pleased with the work-rate. The work-rate and the commitment was there. I said to them whatever position Rotherham were in, it just shows we are not a bad team," he said after the Don Valley Stadium stalemate.

"We could have done with more performances like that. We were well-drilled and dealt with everything that Rotherham threw at us.

"We started very well and then we were under pressure for the last 15 or 20 minutes of the first half, and in the second half with the chances we created I am a little disappointed we didn't come away with a win."

Next up is Morecambe at Valley Parade. The Shrimps are one place and one point below Bradford in the table and look to be short of the belief that helped them secure a play-off place last season.

They have found life tough in their last couple of games with a 4-1 defeat against Bury following up a 2-2 home draw against fellow strugglers Barnet - the Bees' only away point of the season so far.

Bradford beat Gillingham 1-0 in their previous home game and the players should be well aware that only a win will do when they host the struggling Shrimps.

The 0-0 draw at Rotherham was an improvement and now is the time to take the 6/5 with William Hill for Bradford to bag a much-needed victory at the weekend.

PICK:
Bradford to beat Morecambe at 2.10 at Bet365.