City hero John Dreyer today admitted: I'd love to be wrong but I fear the worst for Bryan Robson's men.

Dreyer is still remembered for his winning goal at Sunderland four years ago which took City a massive step towards Premiership safety.

And he hopes to see the present-day Bantams pull off a similar escape from the First Division trapdoor.

But Dreyer insisted: "It's going to be very difficult for them to stay up. They have a lot of work to do.

"I've experienced relegations before, in fact I've been in more struggling teams than I could mention.

"At times like this you can't play your way out of it. It's down to pure effort, nothing else.

"You can't wave a magic wand and suddenly everything will be all right. There is no easy remedy.

"The only way out is to get your head down and keep on working to make the breaks count."

City's strong home form was a key factor in beating the drop in 2000. But this season they have lost 11 times in front of their own fans - more than any other side in the country.

With another home game coming up against Crewe this weekend, that just increases the pressure to perform.

Dreyer said: "The anxiety of the fans will spread on to the pitch. Some players will hide while others will play a totally foreign game to what they normally would do because they feel the pressure.

"You start to lose confidence and that makes it so difficult. The only way to get that back is down to sheer hard work.

"The onus is on the experienced guys in the team and people like David Wetherall and Dean Windass. At times like these you look to the older heads who've seen it, done it and been there.

"But I do feel sorry for the management team because they aren't miracle workers.

"It's plain to see they need fresh faces in there and obviously financial constraints are keeping their hands tied."

Dreyer spent four years with City after signing for £25,000 from Stoke in November 1996. He scored five goals in 93 appearances - but it is the header at the Stadium of Light on Easter Monday that will always stand out.

He added: "That was a special goal for me but the whole time was fantastic and something I will never forget.

"Bradford was just a great club to be at and from Paul Jewell down to all the staff they were a special set of people."

Dreyer was back in the area on Saturday. Now player-manager of Ryman League side Maidenhead United, he sprang a surprise by dumping Conference outfit Halifax out of the FA Trophy.