Staying calm and keeping it clean is key for Bradford City - James Merdedith

Not only did Yorkshire duo Bradford City and Barnsley both record 1-0 wins on the road as they continued to chase a League One play-off place.

But, so too did Gillingham when bouncing back after an indifferent run of form along with Millwall, who beat leaders Burton Albion 2-0 at The Den in the final game of the Bank Holiday.

For Bradford, their 1-0 triumph at Crewe helped set a club record for Ben Williams of 22 clean sheets in a season. It is a deserved accolade, not just for the goalkeeper but the rest of a back four that, as James Meredith is the first to admit, has plenty of miles on the clock when it comes to dealing with the pressures of a play-off race.

“We have got a good team and plenty of experience, especially at the back,” said the 27-year-old Australian.

“Nathan Clarke did it (reached the play-offs) with Leyton Orient, while Stephen Darby and I have obviously done it with Bradford. The back four, we know what we are doing.

“We make sure we keep calm. That is how a lot of people fall off the applecart at the end of a season. It is easily done, because you feel the pressure and less experienced players don’t know what to do.

“You end up conceding goals and letting the pressure get to you. I don’t think that will happen at Bradford.”

Meredith and Darby are veterans of Bradford’s last taste of the play-offs in 2013 along with Rory McArdle, who continues to edge back towards full fitness following a dislocated shoulder.

The Bantams saw off Burton Albion over two legs in the semi-finals before blowing away Northampton Town at Wembley to end their six-year stint in the basement division.

For Meredith, that triumph at the national stadium against the Cobblers was his fourth taste of the play-offs. A year earlier, he had been in the York City side promoted from the Conference after beating Luton Town 2-1. Those back-to-back successes helped make up for the disappointment of losing with York at Wembley in 2010 and the previous year in the Conference North play-off final when on loan at AFC Telford.

“It was about this time that we started to go on a run,” said Meredith when asked about Bradford’s late surge three years ago. “I think we were 11 points off the play-offs with 10 games to go. But we managed to squeeze ourselves in there and followed with the promotion. It was fantastic, a great time for the fans.

“That run-in was great and the team had a really good spirit. I can see the same thing happening now.

“It was difficult with the international lads away (over Easter). But, like that year, we don’t really fear anyone.

“We built ourselves up on a good run, we stayed solid and it all started to come together. With Nahki Wells firing in goals as well, that always helped, and it was a fantastic period.”

City’s victory over Millwall could prove especially important, not least because of the damage it inflicted on a major rival.

Scunthorpe are tomorrow’s visitors and while eight points adrift, the manner of their 6-0 drubbing of Swindon on Monday will have raised hopes of a possible late push. Bradford can extinguish those hopes tomorrow.

“Scunthorpe will think they have a chance,” said Meredith. “That is why it is going to be such an exciting last (seven) games.

“We have also got Coventry and Southend coming up, more opportunities to push them further back down the table.

“It would be a fantastic achievement if we could get there because, once in the play-offs, anything can happen.

“Not that it will be easy. We have just got to be consistent with our performances. It is going to be difficult with teams like Barnsley, who are on a fantastic run, and Millwall have looked pretty solid. But we feel confident.”