PHIL Parkinson has dismissed any suggestion that City have issues with playing at home.

After the three-game road trip, the Bantams are back at Valley Parade to face managerless Port Vale tomorrow.

City's unbeaten away record has put them in the early play-off spots – but they have lost the last three league outings in their own back yard.

Parkinson said: "I don't think there is a problem (of playing at home). We've spoken about the disappointment of the last couple of games but we beat Leeds in the one before that.

"The last two defeats were down to circumstances and things which we didn't do right that cost us.

"We've got to make sure we are strong in the way we set up, like we have been on our travels, and give ourselves a platform.

"We come back home after a good week on the road. It's another big game for us – and it would be great to still be in the top six come tomorrow evening."

At least Parkinson's options have swelled since midweek, when he was forced to name four youth-team players on the bench against MK Dons.

Alan Sheehan returns from serving a three-game ban for his punch against Swindon and Matty Dolan is expected to come back into the squad after missing the last five matches with a hip injury.

City will run a late check on Stephen Darby but Parkinson is not panicking over his skipper, with Gary Liddle proving a dependable deputy.

The City chief said: "We obviously want Darbs to be fit but we won't risk him. It's good to know we have options to play there.

"Gary has shown all season that he is a very good player in midfield but equally he did an excellent job the other night at full back.

"He has played part of a game at centre back so far but we know that he is very good there as well.

"Gary's a very important signing for us. He's similar to Nathan Doyle in terms of having a midfielder who is flexible to play in different positions.

"He's a very intelligent footballer and I don't have any qualms about putting him out there (at full back) again."

City and Port Vale are regular adversaries and tomorrow will be their eighth encounter during Parkinson's reign – more than any other opponent.

Only one of the previous seven have been separated by more than one goal, when City won 2-0 at Vale Park in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy in 2012.

Vale's last visit in February was settled in dramatic fashion with a stoppage-time header by Carl McHugh, which ended a three-month wait for a win.

Parkinson said: "We've had some good games with them over the years. The two clubs have progressed similarly and we both came up at the same time.

"They are always really tight encounters and I expect it to be no different tomorrow. It will be very close."

This will be the first one without Micky Adams in the opposing dugout but Parkinson predicts the same approach under caretaker chief Rob Page.

The City boss said: "He has only taken over for one game and they played in the same way you would expect under Micky. The only difference was that they got the goals to win.

"Rob wants to do well to get the job but I'm not bothered about them. It's about how we go about things tomorrow."