YORK City Knights boss James Ford insists there will be no gung-ho change to tactics as their title battle with Bradford Bulls ramps up a notch.

The Knights' stunning 30-28 victory at Odsal on Sunday drew Ford's troops level with the Bulls at the top of the Betfred League One table with eight games to go.

The former World Club champions still sit at the summit, though, thanks to a superior points difference of plus-574 compared to York's plus-482 - and this was noted by Bulls boss John Kear post-match when he said the Knights still had to "attempt to catch our points difference up".

Ford nevertheless says the Knights will not look beyond winning their remaining matches, one at a time.

Asked if he would tweak tactics to be more attacking in order to score the points necessary to overhaul Bradford's advantage, Ford said: "What a ridiculous question.

"We just need to be as good as we can be in every game.

"We need to make sure our attitude in defence is outstanding in every game.

"Our mentality needs to be the same. We need to turn up, work hard and make sure we play well, and we'll see where that takes us."

Only the league winners gain automatic promotion to the Championship, with the teams in second to fifth going into play-off semi-finals.

Bradford and York are currently eight points clear of a trio of teams - Oldham, Workington and Whitehaven.

The Knights host third-bottom Coventry Bears this coming Sunday – a contest which suddenly looks trickier after the Bears shocked Keighley Cougars 30-20 last Saturday, to follow on from victories over Hemel and London Skolars.

The Midlands outfit play a rearranged game at home to whipping boys West Wales Raiders tonight where they will expect to make it four wins on the bounce.

Said Ford of the run-in for the title: “We’ve got to take it a game at a time. There are eight ‘Grand Finals’ to go and we’ve got to be at our best in every one.

“But now I’m not thinking about anything other than the Coventry game.”