DAVID Ball admits City’s bigger names must step up to the plate after ending the longest goal drought of his career.

Ball got off the mark at the 15th attempt when he scored in the Checkatrade Trophy loss at Barnsley.

As he returns to former club Peterborough today, the 28-year-old hopes that will be the trigger for his own form.

With City seven points adrift of safety, Ball knows the team must start doing themselves justice.

“It’s about survival now and we’ve all got to be strong,” he said. “We have to show who we are.

“Dig people out and help everybody in the club to get us back to a better place.”

Ball did not expect to be plunged into a relegation battle when he joined on a season-long loan from Rotherham at the end of the transfer window.

The last two years have seen him reach the play-offs for Fleetwood and win promotion with the Millers. He anticipated another top-six push at Valley Parade.

Ball added: “When I had offers to come to different clubs on the final day (of the window), I didn’t even look at the others.

“I just saw Bradford. I didn’t see the position or anything else.

“I’ve played against Bradford a number of seasons and they’ve always been fighting at the top end.

“I just looked at the name of the club and knew I wanted to play here.

“I saw enough players here who have done it at other clubs and felt that I could add to that.”

Having finally broken his duck, Ball is backing himself to get the goals flowing – something City are desperate for to salvage their desperate position on the bottom of League One.

He said: “It’s the longest I’ve been without a goal – it was probably five or six games before that.

“Obviously as a striker it’s frustrating and coming to a big club like Bradford I wanted to make an immediate impact.

“But through all that, I’ve tried to run as hard and do as much I can for the team. But at the same time, I know I’ve not been contributing in that way with goals.

“On a personal level, I’ve still got confidence in myself to still do the job.

“With Rotherham, it did take to December time until it really clicked.

“This is a new squad but there are a lot of partnerships and off-the-field friendships that need to come to the fore.

“We need to start working as a whole group because you can’t do it on your own.”

Ball spent 18 months at Peterborough and scored 11 goals in 45 appearances – but 31 of them came from the bench.

He was a late substitute in the 2011 play-off final victory over Huddersfield when they clinched promotion.

Ball also scored the winner in their Championship opener against Crystal Palace after current City team-mate Sean Scannell had put the visitors ahead.

He said: “I have some good memories from Peterborough. I signed in League One and we got promoted that season to the Championship.

“I went on loan at the start of that year (to Rochdale) because they had some really good players at that time – Craig Mackail-Smith, Lee Tomlin and George Boyd.

“I know they always want to play an attacking style and scoring goals. They almost like to win 4-3.

“They do give you a chance and that’s been the case every time I’ve gone back there.

“Players talk about good grounds for themselves and playing well there. Hopefully that will hold us in good stead.”