JON Stead will step into the TV firing line for City tonight against the club he led in the Premier League.

The 31-year-old striker is in line to start at Valley Parade in his first game back since returning on loan from Huddersfield.

Middlesbrough left winger Andy Halliday will also be in the squad for the tea-time derby against Sheffield United after signing on a month's loan.

With James Hanson still recovering from his persistent thigh problem, Stead has been brought in until January 3 to bolster the ranks. He has scored a couple of goals so far this season for Town.

Stead, who scored five times for the Blades in the top flight during the 2007-08 campaign, made eight appearances for City last term and netted at Tranmere on the final day.

He said: "I obviously know the management staff and a lot of the players already from my time at Bradford last season. It was a straightforward choice to make the move back here.

"I really enjoyed it here last season and I'm ready to play my part again."

Scotsman Halliday, 23, has Championship experience after playing 18 games on loan at Blackpool last season. But he has not been involved under Boro boss Aitor Karanka.

City blew the chance to go into the League One game in fourth place after their second-half slump against Barnsley.

That was their first away loss in the league and ended a five-match unbeaten run – the best start to a season on the road in the club's history.

But judging by the reaction to the defeat, Phil Parkinson feels that some may have got carried away by City's position among the division's early front-runners.

The Bantams boss said: "We've got to be careful of our expectations. After the start we had, maybe they got a bit distorted.

"The away form has been excellent – and we've been disappointed with ourselves over 45 minutes of football through the whole season.

"We were also up against a team that have just come down after eight years in the Championship and have had the luxury of buying three or four players.

"We would love to win every game but that just isn't possible. We weren't the best team on the day, simple as that.

"Emotions run high when you lose any game but especially a Yorkshire derby. The fact that we are so annoyed with ourselves does show how far we've come.

"Sheffield United are expected to be right up there with the resources at their disposal.

"We put expectations on ourselves to perform the best we possibly can each week. We're not happy when we fall short of that.

"I think the majority of the time we get the maximum out of the players. If we do that and still fall short, then we hold our hands up.

"It's important we do the job we set out to do from the first minute to the last. You have to keep the momentum on your side by doing all the basics well.

"The minute you don't, the tide starts going in favour of the opposition. That's probably what happened last weekend."

City won the corresponding fixture with the Blades last season thanks to a Nahki Wells double. They also fought back from two down to salvage a draw at Bramall Lane in January.

Parkinson said: "I thought the home game was one of our best last season. There was 18,000 here that day, which made for a terrific atmosphere, and we got the goals at good times.

"The away one was more about the spirit of the team that got us something that day. We were on the back foot for long periods but battled back to get an important point.

"Sheffield United are expected to be right up there with the resources at their disposal. They've got to be one of the favourites because of the way they finished last season.

"Everyone thought them and Bristol City would be the two teams this year and it's a good test for us. We want to show ourselves at our best."

Leaders Bristol City are next on the fixture list, with a midweek trip to Ashton Gate to follow today's clash.

Parkinson said: "It's got to be our aim to go down to Bristol with a really positive feel on the coach. I'm confident we're capable of doing that."