THE significance of the result would have been lost on anyone just flicking through a newspaper to glance at the night's football scores.

A 1-0 win over Port Vale, in front of Valley Parade's smallest audience of last season, is hardly going to jump out at you.

But as Vale return to face City this afternoon, nobody in the home camp will forget the significance of that last meeting on a chilly Tuesday in February.

Phil Parkinson called it the pivotal result of their first year back in the third tier; Julian Rhodes compared the crowd's reaction to their manager as "treating him like a rock star".

Home points have suddenly proved elusive for the Bantams, who go into today's encounter on the back of three successive league defeats on their own turf.

It is a concern – but nothing to the pressure that was building before Vale turned up last time. At that stage, City had gone ten attempts without a Valley Parade victory – and won only once in 20 games anywhere.

"I've got to be honest but it's got to rank as one of the best games I've been to in recent years," said joint-chairman Rhodes.

"I know we've had a lot of good ones but the atmosphere that night was electric from start to finish. Bearing in mind we hadn't won for so long, it was incredible really.

"The players just kept going right to the end. I don't think anybody left early and then we got the late winner."

Carl McHugh's stoppage-time header in front of the Kop was almost up there with the one he bulleted in the same net the year before against Aston Villa. Rhodes certainly thought so.

He recalled: "At the time, it felt like we were through to the cup final again. It was that type of night."

So you can understand his call for a sense of perspective about the current position. While he wants that elusive home win to appease the season-ticket holders – "they pay their money to be entertained at Valley Parade" – an early play-off placing hardly suggests anybody should be in the realms of panic.

Rhodes said: "Last year, things were getting a little bit desperate. This year, we are sixth in the table.

"It's just because we've had a few games at home when we haven't done so well.

"We've not defended set-pieces well on a couple of occasions. Take them out of that and we'd be doing okay.

"I happen to think they've been against some good teams. But it's important we put that right.

"We need to lift home spirits. If we can do that today, it will have been a great start to the season.

"The vast majority of supporters haven't seen the away games. They pay their money to come and watch the team at Valley Parade.

"They want to be entertained and see a performance, so there is a bit of pressure.

"But it's important that we don't develop any kind of fear factor at home – and we won't.

"The supporters are never like that. They are always behind the team and they will be this again afternoon."

City's lofty placing is down to their impressive unbeaten travelling record. Since the last home defeat to Swindon, they bounced back with a surprise win at MK Dons and a draw with Colchester.

Rhodes said: "I don't think anybody envisaged that we would take four points from two away games in that period.

"We got knocked out of the Capital One Cup, which was far from ideal. But the points on the road have taken the pressure off in the league.

"If we'd performed like we have done traditionally away, then we'd be looking at the wrong end of the table. As it is, we are up there in the play-off positions.

"Think back to the summer and I don't think anyone would have thought that after nine games we'd have 14 points. Most thought we'd be in for a tough start and a difficult season.

"It's still early days and obviously a lot can happen but I think there are some very encouraging signs at the moment."

Injuries – and Alan Sheehan's suspension – have bitten deep and the seven-man bench for the midweek return to Milton Keynes included four youth-team players.

Sixteen-year-old Reece Webb-Foster's late appearance made him the second-youngest to appear for City, only 59 days older than record holder Bob Cullingford from 1970.

Rhodes said: "I think that bodes well for the club to see the youngsters being involved. There were also three kids on the bench against Colchester and we got a very creditable 0-0 draw.

"I think the young lads are playing their part and Olly McBurnie is getting stronger all the time.

"But obviously it's important we don't ask too much of them. It's about getting that right balance.

"The hectic fixture period is over with now and that is a big factor. Look at the injuries we've had and the key personnel we've been missing. But hopefully that will calm down."