David Wetherall is hoping City are running into form at just the right time - for this season and next.

The skipper believes the derby win over Huddersfield has done more than revive their play-off bid.

He is also looking for a spin-off in the longer term - by bringing back the stay-away fans.

Wetherall said: "Winning that game on Saturday was important on so many fronts. It was three points we desperately needed, beating Huddersfield as well gives everyone around the place a lift, and the time of the year is very significant.

"It was great having a good crowd at home again and hopefully that will attract more fans to come back again. It might even persuade a few more to buy season-tickets which would be great news.

"You can't lose sight of where we have come from in just a few months. That's why any extra revenue from season-ticket sales will benefit the club greatly.

"If more can be sold, that will hopefully give Julian Rhodes and the manager a bigger budget for next season.

"Last year there was so much uncertainty with people not knowing if there would still be a football club to watch. Now our position is a little more normal and it's important that we can sell as many season-tickets as possible.

"Hopefully a few more performances like that one can help."

Fans have also been put off by City's struggles at Valley Parade where they had gone ten games without a win. It was also the first home clean sheet since Barnsley on October 2.

Wetherall admitted: "The longer a run like that goes on, the harder it becomes to get rid of. But we've put it to bed and our next home match is just another game now - people won't keep talking about what went wrong over the last few months.

"To get a clean sheet was just an extra boost for confidence, especially for a defender, although as long as we are winning it doesn't matter.

"But clean sheets are not just about the defence, they are a team thing.

"I played under George Graham for a while at Leeds and people always talked about the back four being fantastic players but the way the midfield were working in front was incredible. It can be impossible at times for defenders whatever you do but in other games the team can make it easy."

Meanwhile, Colin Todd is hoping that a slight bug affecting the squad will ease before the Peterborough trip.

He said: "Mark Bower, Nicky Summerbee and Paul Tierney have picked it up but luckily it is early enough in the week so there shouldn't be a problem."