PHIL JEVONS says neither his head nor his workrate will drop as he aims to reach a career century of goals and help Town climb the League I standings.
The 29-year-old striker has endured a frustrating season, scoring just twice in 22 appearances, 13 of them starts.
Jevons is just one goal off three figures, but Tuesday’s clash with Hartlepool was his third personal blank in a row, and the former Everton, Grimsby, Hull, Yeovil and Bristol City man faces fresh competition from new arrivals Jonathan Tehoue and Lukas Jutkiewicz.
In addition, Andy Booth could take another step on the comeback trail after his back injury on Monday, when Town face Liverpool in a behind-closed-doors game.
And Lee Novak, a prolific scorer for Gateshead, will come on board in the close-season after playing the rest of this campaign with the non-league club.
“There was talk about strikers coming in all through the transfer window, and now we have two more on board, and one lined up for next season,” said Jevons, who is under contract through to 2010.
“It’s been an up and down season for me, but I’ve had a run of games under the present manager, and while I feel I’ve contributed to the overall team effort, I obviously haven’t got as many goals as I would have liked.
“It’s down to me to put that right and prove to the manager that I’m good enough to be in the side week in, week out.”
Jevons, who was a prolific scorer in two seasons Yeovil and one-an-a-half at Bristol City, added: “Belief is a vital thing in any player, and I have that, but I need to generate some scoring momentum.
“That’s what I had both at Yeovil and Bristol, and the confidence of having a few goals under your belt is crucial.
“I’ll continue to work hard both in training and matches, and I firmly believe I can play a key role for this club.”
Town, ninth after their 1-1 home draw with Hartlepool, visit Bristol Rovers tomorrow, weather permitting, and Jevons, at one-time linked with a cross-city switch from Ashton Gate to the Memorial Ground, believes the play-offs remain a realistic target.
“It’s the be all and end all really, and reaching that target is something we talk about all the time,” said the man who promotion from League I with Bristol City in 2007.
“It’s been a frustrating spell of late, but other than the away game at Yeovil, our performances have been decent, and now it really is time to turn those kind of displays into wins.”
Staffordshire referee Chris Sarginson will take charge tomorrow.
In the middle for Bradford’s 2-0 home win over Grimsby in League II last Saturday, it will be his second Town game this season after the 1-0 home defeat by Orient in November.
In 18 games this season, his first on the Football League list, he’s issued four red cards and 63 yellows.
