Bradford must rebuild their home fortress

The Bantams have taken just one point from their last four home games, a record that contrasts sharply with how the Yorkshire club had been faring on their own turf.

Before the sudden recent dip in results, Bradford had taken 26 points from 12 outings at Valley Parade and Parkinson is demanding a return to that imperious form during a run-in that starts today with a visit from Aldershot Town.

He said: “I look back to when I first came here and a feature of how we changed things was in making Valley Parade a much tougher place for opposing teams to play.

“It helped play a part in improving our home results but I do believe over the last few games that we have gone away from that a bit.

“Teams are coming here and raising their game, which is to be expected against a team who reached a major Cup final (the Capital One Cup). But we have to respond to that better than we have done lately.

“We need to step it up a level. And not do what has maybe happened lately and just say, ‘Cor, they played really well today to stop us winning’.

“I don’t want to see any other teams coming to Bradford and enjoying their day out.”

City have taken five points from their three games since becoming the first team from the fourth tier to reach a major final at Wembley.

A disappointing 1-1 draw with Dagenham & Redbridge just three days after the 5-0 loss to Swansea City was followed by a 2-0 win at York City and a heartening goalless draw with high-flying Port Vale.

Parkinson was particularly impressed by his side’s efforts at Vale Park against a host team who would have returned to the top with a victory over the Yorkshire outfit.

The City manager added: “Whether I think Wembley is out of our system or not doesn’t matter.

“We will be judged on our performances and that is why I felt so buoyant on Tuesday night about how we played at Port Vale.

“We have had a good week but we move on.”