MATT Kilgallon believes that now might be the best time for City to face his old club Blackburn.

Tony Mowbray's side head to Valley Parade tomorrow still looking for their first point since being relegated from the Championship.

Rovers are hotly fancied to bounce straight back from their first season of third-tier football for 37 years.

Kilgallon, who played 64 games in three years with them, is convinced they will be in the promotion mix.

Yet he hopes City can take advantage while Blackburn are still finding their feet.

The Bantams defender said: "There is a bit of pressure on them at the minute.

"If they start winning a few, they might get settled into it, but maybe playing them early will be a good thing.

"League One is not as easy as you think. It will be a shock to the system for a few players.

"There are still some I speak to and the off-field things have an impact. They've also seen some others go.

"I can't see them not being up there. There is just too much quality – but it's all about the attitude.

"They've been on a bit of a decline for a while and haven't got off to a great start. It will be interesting.

"But there are some good players in that team and they've got a lot of experience as well. I will be very shocked if they're not in the top six this season."

The former Premier League champions were a top-flight side five years ago and will be viewed as a major scalp in the lower divisions.

Kilgallon can understand that weight of expectation because City face the same with their 31-game unbeaten league home record.

"It's like that for us when people come to Valley Parade," said the 33-year-old defender.

"Teams really want to beat us at home. They sit behind the ball and sometimes it's hard for us to break them down and we've got to be patient.

"You saw that with Blackpool. They said it was three at the back but it was more of a five.

"Blackburn are going to find it like that because everyone will look forward to going to Ewood Park.

"Every team will find that little bit extra and they've got to get used to that now."

Kilgallon does not expect another smothering job when Blackburn visit for the first time since 1990 but he thinks they may have to be cautious.

He said: "I would be surprised if they were the sort of team who will worry about the opposition. It will be more about what they are going to do.

"But with our record at home, I think you have to look at us. Maybe the full backs will have to sit in a little bit longer or the striker drops in on someone.

"I don't think you can come to Valley Parade and just go at us because of the way we play.

"I can remember going to grounds where the home team hadn't lost for something like two months and you'd be thinking 'blimey, they're on a good run here'.

"When you think we were unbeaten at home all season, it will affect you a bit. But it's also up to us to keep our standards high and keep that alive.

"You're definitely proud to be part of a record like that. It's something to tell your kids about or talk to fans about when you're finished, so you want to keep it going."

With Romain Vincelot missing his second game through suspension, Kilgallon will continue the central-defensive partnership with Nathaniel Knight-Percival that helped City gain their first clean sheet of the season at Gillingham.

Kilgallon, currently enjoying his longest run in the side since last October, has become even more of a senior statesman following the summer exodus of so many established names.

He said: "The dressing room has changed. A lot of young lads have come in and they are a little bit quieter.

"You can understand that. It is a bit different but we've all got to stick together and keep going.

"It's up to us older ones to bring the young lads through. You always remember who helped you along."