SKIPPER Stephen Darby does not believe that City’s new system is a factor behind their stuttering home form.

Rock-bottom Crewe hit Valley Parade tomorrow as the Bantams try once again to buck a trend which has seen them fail to win there in the league since opening day.

That Coventry triumph has been followed by defeats to Peterborough, Yeovil and Swindon before last week’s draw with Port Vale.

While City remain unbeaten on their travels, the sticky spell on their own turf has turned the spotlight on the “diamond” set-up.

But Darby bristles at suggestions that the narrower formation is hindering their efforts at home.

“Not at all,” he said. “Teams change formation all the time and we’ve shown we have played some good stuff at home as well.

“Unfortunately the results just haven’t gone our way but we’ll be looking to put that right.

“Every team tries to make their home ground a fortress and that’s what Valley Parade has been for us. We’ve just got to make sure that we are on our game and show that commitment, desire and willingness to keep going to the last minute.

“The away form has been brilliant but we’ve had a couple of poor ones at home and we’re doing everything we can to sort that.

“People might say that we’re worried about playing at home but that’s not the case.

“After the Yeovil game, we sat down and looked at the video to see where we went wrong. We’re working really hard on and off the pitch to do all we can to turn the home form round.

“We have to show that never-say-die attitude and be prepared to put our bodies on the line to get that winning mentality back.”

Darby’s commitment to the cause cannot be doubted. Last week’s absence in the Capital One Cup loss at MK Dons was his first since January 2013, when he was spared a JPT trip to Crewe to rest for the Aston Villa second leg.

The tightness in his groin had been building but it was still a shock to see Gary Liddle in his place at right back – ending an incredible run of 85 successive starts.

Darby admitted: “It was strange. You want to be involved in every game and it’s not nice when you’re not there, in and around the lads in the dressing room.

“There’s nothing worse than sitting at home when there’s a game on. You keep looking at the clock and working out what they will be doing at that moment, whether it’s on the bus to the ground or doing the warm-up.

“You go through the day thinking what the team are up to and it’s frustrating.

“It was a good run and I was obviously disappointed to miss a game. But it was something I had to do.

“The problem had been getting worse and I just needed a couple of days to settle things down. Thankfully getting that rest cleared everything up.

“Injuries are part of football and sometimes it can be down to bad luck. You can go in for a tackle and pick up an injury or a knock.

“But you’ve also got to make sure you live your life right away from the game and prepare properly. That’s what we do here.”