Bradford City's Gary Walsh is determined to dent the promotion hopes of Middlesbrough on Satur-day, but is still tipping his former club for a quick return to the Premiership.

Walsh left the Riverside Stadium for City earlier this season in a £500,000 deal, after being relegated to third-choice goalkeeper behind Ben Roberts and Mark Schwarzer.

It was a bitter blow to a player who had played in the Premiership and European Champions League during his 12 years at Manchester United.

However, since arriving at Valley Parade in September, the 29-year-old has impressed with a string of fine performances, and he is hoping he can take that form into the clash with Middlesbrough.

He said: "I have obviously never been back as an opposition player, so I don't know what it will be like. But I have never called them or anything since leaving, so there shouldn't be any bad blood.

"I always got on well with the fans up there, so hopefully the reception won't be too bad, although you never know until the day. I went back to Manchester United as a Boro player and the United fans were very good to me then, so hopefully it will be the same on Saturday.

"I had to get away as I wasn't even in the reserves at Boro. Funnily enough, when the two sides met in September at Bradford, I was in a Durham theme park with the family.

"I remember driving home and Bradford were winning 2-1, but then Boro got the equaliser. We would probably be happy with a similar result on Saturday."

The 2-2 draw left the Bantams on top of the First Division, while Bryan Robson's side were 12th, but since then the roles have been reversed with the North East side setting the pace, along with Nottingham Forest.

Walsh made his debut for City as a loan player just two weeks later in the goalless draw at Oxford United on September 27.

City's preparations for such a tough game have been hit by suspension, with Eddie Youds, Craig Ramage and Nigel Pepper starting bans. Defenders Darren Moore and John Dreyer are also fighting to be fit, but Walsh remains convinced City will put up a creditable performance.

"It will be difficult, but the pitch is dreadful up there, so that might help us. They are a good team, but if you can't look forward to playing in front of 30,000, then you shouldn't be playing football. It is as simple as that.

"I think they will go up. Teams like Middlesbrough are too big not to go up and, although I hope we can come away with a good result, I still believe they will be one of the two sides automatically promoted."

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