GARY Liddle feels City’s cup-fighting pedigree can propel them to play-off glory.

Liddle is back at Valley Parade tomorrow for the first time since his £30,000 move to Chesterfield in January.

Phil Parkinson’s side could grab fourth spot – and home advantage in the second leg of the play-off semi-finals – with a win over the Spireites, who have safeguarded their place in League One.

And Liddle believes his old club have the big-game experience and the momentum to carry them through to Wembley and a promotion shot.

The Chesterfield skipper told the T&A: “Bradford are probably the most in-form team going into the play-offs.

“There are some tough teams to be up against and whoever is in there out of Walsall or Burton is going to be a strong outfit.

“But you look at the momentum Bradford have got over the second half of the season. It’s nothing short of automatic promotion form.

“That will take them a long way and hopefully they can do it.

“The play-offs are a lottery and anything can happen.

“But you’ve got to treat it like a cup and Bradford obviously have a great recent history in cup competitions, especially the Chelsea game which I was lucky enough to play in.

“The atmosphere that stadium can create on cup nights and in play-off games will certainly be an advantage for them.”

Liddle, who made 76 appearances during his 18 months with City, is looking forward to the chance to say a proper farewell to his former team-mates and the fans.

His last appearance at Valley Parade was five months ago when he came off the bench to score a stoppage-time goal against non-league Chesham in the FA Cup.

“The way the Chesterfield move came about was very sudden,” he added. “It just came out the blue and I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye other than a few phone calls and the odd text.

“If I’d known my last game was going to be at Valley Parade it would have been different but I was off pretty sharpish.

“With there being nothing to play for, it will be nice to go back and see some familiar faces and give everyone my best.”

Liddle was reunited with his former Hartlepool boss Danny Wilson at Chesterfield and was immediately handed the captain’s armband on his arrival on transfer deadline day.

Carlisle had also been keen on the midfielder but he was not prepared to leave Valley Parade and drop a division.

Liddle said: “The last month at Bradford turned a bit sour not being involved as much as I would like. I was disappointed not to be playing.

“I’ll be 30 in the summer and don’t want to be sat in the stand. I wanted to play football and Chesterfield came in with the offer to do that.

“I’ve played in this league for nine to ten years. I’ve learned my trade in this league and if I was to leave Bradford City, it was always going to be to another club in League One.

“I’ve known Danny for ten years, he was my first manager at Hartlepool, and he was a big draw for me.”

With Chesterfield spared a final-day relegation scrap, Liddle can enjoy the lunchtime return to familiar surroundings. But even with the pressure off, he expects a full-on encounter.

He said: “I’m sure Phil won’t be making too many changes because he’ll want to keep the momentum going.

“It was a game I was already looking forward to when I went to Chesterfield.

“I just wanted to go there knowing we were safe. It would have been a nightmare to be going back if we’d needed a result on the day.

“We certainly didn’t celebrate securing our league status but it would have been a catastrophe to go down.

“Bradford won’t have changed how hard they work or how they train from the early part of the season. It can take a little time but now things seem to have clicked into place.

“I’m thrilled to see the whole club doing as well as it is. I’m so pleased for the fans, who turn up in their numbers home and away, and deserve that success.”