Goal-shy Bradford City must unlock the Premiership's meanest home defence currently to get anything from Saturday's trip to Southampton.

The Saints have kept five successive clean sheets at The Dell and conceded only one goal in seven games on their own patch, picking up 19 points from a maximum 21 in the process.

It's hardly the most encouraging destination for rock-bottom City, especially as they have not scored a goal in 511 minutes of trying.

And Bantams old boy Dean Richards, a key member of Southampton's steel curtain, has issued a tough warning to his hometown club.

Centre-half Richards said: "Glenn Hoddle has got us so well organised in defence that we go out there confident that we aren't going to let anything in.

"We work hard on it in training and you've seen the results on the pitch.

"The only one scored against us recently was in the Sheffield Wednesday FA Cup game when we switched off a bit.

"But in the league, we're on a great run and the longer we keep it going the better chance we have of finishing in the top ten, which is a realistic target.

"If we beat Bradford on Saturday that will take us to 35 points which should see us safe. Then hopefully we can aim for as high a finish as possible."

Richards left Valley Parade six years ago for Wolves but still follows City's fortunes.

"I still have a massive soft spot for them and a lot of my friends and family support Bradford City.

"It's been great to see them doing so well in recent years and I was so happy when they stayed up on the last game of last season.

"Nobody gave them a prayer to survive but they did it right on the final day. It's looking very difficult again but they won't throw in the towel."

That doesn't mean City will get any gifts for old time's sake. Richards is in no mood to misplace a backpass or miss a tackle.

"It's going to be a hard game because of where they are in the table. Bradford need to win it so they will roll up their sleeves and have a real go.

"They are desperate for the points and although we will obviously start as strong favourites, we will not underestimate them at all.

"This is my second season in the Premiership and I feel I'm playing the best form of my career.

"Last year I was a bit in awe at times but now I've got used to playing at this level and I'm delighted with my form and want to keep it going.

"This is a great time for Southampton with us preparing to move to the new 32,000-seater stadium in the city and we want to go there as a team nearer the top than the bottom. To do that we must keep winning games like Bradford on Saturday."

City were driving south this afternoon to their country club retreat outside Southampton.