Kayden Jackson says Bradford City cannot play for final-day point as he reflects on poignant game

The Bantams go into Saturday's televised final game of the regular season knowing a draw will book their place in the play-offs.

Failing that either Stevenage, at home to Wigan Athletic, or Luton Town, at a Bolton Wanderers side looking to secure a home second leg in the semi-finals, dropping points will do. The games kick off at 3pm.

But with the Grecians needing a victory to have any chance of staying up, striker Jackson warned it will backfire on the Bantams if they try to do the bare minimum.

"That's probably the most dangerous mindset in football, that a point will do us, we'll scrape through the game and take a draw," he said.

"I don't think any team has ever gone out to play for a draw and gone how they want.

"We'll be front-footed.

"We know whatever happens, we need to go down there, give our all, play positive, attack-minded football. It won't be from a lack of desire, effort, attack and impetus.

"I've had many seasons where I've been kind of floating about (on the final day). As a professional, it's not where you want to be.

"You want to go into these games with a bit of jeopardy – knowing that we need something, it's do or die, it's now or never.

"To be a part of it, to be able to be out there and give my all to try and help us get over the line, it's an absolute pleasure.

"It's never over until it's over. It's just ridiculous how things can swing. You just have to keep plugging away.

"This week we'll prepare properly. We'll rest up, we'll recover, we'll do everything right to make sure that we get over the line on Saturday.

"That's why you signed up. That's why the supporters come in their thousands. They want to see see good attacking football.

"They want to see their team going out there to do their shirt justice.

"We're at the right end of the table. We're where every Bradford fan wants to be."

The Bradfordian was playing for the first time in the annual match to mark the anniversary of the 1985 fire at Valley Parade having joined on a free transfer from Derby County in January, shortly before his 32nd birthday.

The day had an effect on him.

"The scenes beforehand were up there with any I've ever experienced," he said. "It was special to be a part of them. I'm just glad we were able to mark it with a positive result.

"It would have been disappointing to see all the scenes and then lose the fixture.

"I'm just glad we were able to do everyone justice.

"I don't think it's necessarily, 'I don't want to let people down.'

"I think it's, 'I've got an opportunity in this shirt. I'm on the pitch. There's 20-odd thousand here. I'm representing them. Let me go on the pitch and fight and give everything.'

"Because I know if I swap places with any one of them, they'd give their all. It might look different, but they'd love to be out there and fighting, scrapping, running, whatever it may be.

"So you just try to go out there and represent them the best you can. I've never been a part of anything like that – to see it, to witness it, to be able to soak it all in, because sometimes you don't allow yourself to be a part of it.

"But I made sure that I was there, I was present and I was able to soak it in. It was extra special.

"To be able to mark it like that and pay our respects and then go on the pitch and give everything for not only your team-mates, but for all those that lost somebody that day, it was special to be a part of."

And more than that, Jackson volleyed a crucial equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw against a Bolton side they could meet again in the play-offs.

"I said to the other guys it felt like a game where perhaps the ball wasn't going to drop for us," said the forward.

"There were a couple of moments where we've had little opportunities where we've not quite got the right roll of the grass. But to get the ball to drop to me and manage to have a touch and get it off quickly, it was a sweet moment.

"Those are the moments that you play football for. That's why every kid wants to be a striker, an attacker. They want to be scoring goals in front of the Kop for their hometown club in a packed stadium on an occasion like Saturday.

"That's why I'm here. As long as I'm here, I'll give my all to do that, put a smile on the fans' faces and do everyone that's here and everyone at home justice."

Victory on Saturday would see Bradford finish second if Bolton lost and Stockport County failed to win either of their last two matches. They host Port Vale on Tuesday before a final-day trip to Barnsley.

Finishing third or fourth would mean home advantage in the play-off semi-final second leg.