Halliday keen for Bantams to avenge Notts County 'low point'

The defender viewed the four-goal first half at Notts County in November as the worst moment of the campaign.

And he is eager to put the record straight by making it four wins on the bounce when the Magpies visit Valley Parade.

“It was very tough to be in that situation,” he said. “It was obviously live on Sky and we were 4-0 down in the first half.

“I don’t think that’s happened too many times in my career.

“It was maybe the low point of the season. But from that half-time team talk, it really started our little push.

“The message was that we can’t concede anymore and I thought the second-half performance was probably up there with the best we’ve had.

“We had a lot of chances and on a different day that game could have swung the other way.

“We picked up a few good results after that game and currently we’re performing well. It’s just about keeping the standards high.”

Notts County sit a point above City after losing five out of six and Graham Alexander’s men will be keen to put some more pressure on the bunch ahead after last week’s late postponement.

The gap to the play-offs is five points and Halliday insists they can force their way into the mix.

“It’s well within our reach. But the performances from now until the end of the season have to be good, we can’t dip otherwise we will struggle to get there.

“A big factor is that most teams will have to play those around them. It’s those games where you need to pick up three points.

“A win and a few losses in our favour and we’ll leapfrog quite a few teams.

“We can’t get too caught up looking at the league table. With 13 games to go, there’s almost a third of the season left.

“Our mindset is just taking a game at a time. Try to get three points against Notts County and then look to Tuesday and see if we can win there.”

City’s defeat at Notts County saw Alexander abandon a back four at half-time and switch to a wing-back system they have used ever since.

Halliday has relished the more attacking role on the right and continues to look the team’s most accomplished player.

“We tinkered with it early on in the season as well but it was always something I thought I could do,” he added.

“It’s something the manager has allowed me to do ever since he came in.

“There are a few aspects I can still improve on. That’s really the main goal.

“If I can improve individually then it will help the team collectively.

Brad Halliday in action against Wycombe - his 92nd City game (Image: Thomas Gadd)

“I’m 28 now and quite experienced. I’ve played a lot of games but you can always learn.

“You look at some of the senior players in the dressing room, the likes of Derbs (Matt Derbyshire), Kev (McDonald) and Richie (Smallwood). They’ve obviously had great careers at the top level but they are still learning.

“That’s the main thing. Regardless of what age you’re at, you can always learn and look to get better and that’s what we’re trying to do here.”

Halliday is also one of the players closing in on 100 City games – a milestone he should hit over the Easter period.

It has been an impressive run of regular appearances since a serious knee injury saw him miss virtually the whole of the season before he joined the club in 2022.

He said: “I’d spent about 12 months from the last time I’d kicked a ball to my first game against Doncaster last season.

“It’s always tough to start again and get yourself back in that routine of playing Saturday, Tuesday. I’m glad that I’ve been able to carry that on and hopefully will do for the rest of my career.

“A lot of people can afford to take time off and rest days. But my mentality has always been that if I feel all right, I’ll play.

“It’s proved that with the 92 games for the club. Hopefully I can carry on and keep doing well.”