Home comforts seem to be back for City

No wonder, therefore, that Phil Parkinson’s players are eager to return to Valley Parade today for the first of three home games before the end of the month.

Rock-bottom Barnet are today’s visitors, closely followed by Morecambe on Tuesday night and then Port Vale on September 29 with a trip to Oxford United sandwiched in between the latter two games.

“It will be nice to get back on home soil after three away games,” said Parkinson. “The lads are looking forward to it a lot. Barnet may not have had the best of starts but I am sure they will have been working hard this week on doing something different. They will be tough opponents.”

City’s record of just one defeat at home since November last year is in stark contrast to their struggles in recent years with 2010-11 bringing 10 league defeats at Valley Parade.

In both 2006-07 and 2007-08 they lost nine times, while their nadir on home soil came in 
2003-04 when 14 visiting teams left with all three points as the Bantams crashed out of the second tier in abject fashion.

City will be boosted today by the possible involvement of Ricky Ravenhill, who came through a reserve clash with Port Vale in midweek without suffering any ill-affects.

The midfielder has been out since pre-season when he suffered a knee ligament injury against Guiseley.

Nahki Wells could also return after sitting out last weekend’s draw at Accrington Stanley with a hip injury that underwent a scan this week.

Parkinson said: “It is pleasing to have Ricky back. He looked really good the other night and put in a decent display.

“We have missed him, especially as when he got the injury he had just enjoyed a good tour of Ireland and was playing well. To have him back in the mix is great.

“He has worked really hard with the physio and the fitness coach.

“As for Nahki, he came back to join in with training on Thursday.

“We will look again on Wednesday to see if he needs an injection.”