CITY are being urged to rekindle the spirit of May 2013 to break their duck against top-ten opponents.

Phil Parkinson’s side are yet to beat a team above them in the table – something they must rectify if the play-off push is to materialise this season.

The next three games are all against sides up there, starting with tomorrow’s clash at Burton.

It will be City’s first visit to the Pirelli Stadium since the play-off semi-final victory three seasons ago and assistant boss Steve Parkin believes they can use those memories as an incentive.

Burton may lead the division but the challenge for the Bantams that night was just as hard, trailing 3-2 from the first leg against a side with the best home record in the country.

“That was a day you dream of as a coach and manager at any football club,” said Parkin.

“We were up against a really good team and dangerous players, we had a very hard task to be done.

“But the team set about it in an incredible way in terms of their fitness levels and energy.

“I think it should inspire us all. It’s not too long ago and there are those in the team who played in that game.

“We have got fond memories of the place and we need to make sure we have more come 4.50pm tomorrow.”

Parkin has plenty of admiration for Burton boss Nigel Clough, who returned at the start of December for his second spell at the club where he previously managed for nearly 11 years.

Parkin added: “We know how tough it will be. They are rightly top of the league and Nigel has gone in there and wants to put his own stamp on it.

“He was hard-done by at Sheffield United, in my opinion. He did a great job there.

“I’m looking forward to seeing him and looking forward to playing his team.

“They are a team full of energy and endeavour. They’ve got a tremendous defensive record and it will be a tight game.

But you always want to pit yourself against the teams at the top and our record has not been good this season against those above us.

“We need to start winning those games and we’ve got a lot of them to play still.

“We’ve seen with lots of teams in our division who have had a sticky patch, one win gets you off and running, two can make all the difference.

“You only have to look at Barnsley. They lost eight on the bounce and now they never look like losing.”

“We have to strive for that and we’ve got to be very focused.

“We have to put on an away performance that is consistent enough to get a victory – the way we defend, attack and keep 11 players on the pitch.”

Reece Burke came through training yesterday unscathed. City will also look carefully at James Meredith who twisted his ankle earlier in the week but was able to do some work.

There was also the boost of seeing Filipe Morais join in the warm-up for the first time since his cruciate knee injury in July.

Parkin said: “We’ve got to be sensible and we’re in the hands of the surgeon who operated on him.

“But Fil is buzzing and looking good. His motivation to get back is there for us all to see.”