David Wetherall is backing City to destroy a double hoodoo by beating Sheffield Wednesday tonight.

Wetherall leads the Bantams into the home Yorkshire derby eager to continue their surge up the table.

But to do that, City must set the record straight on two fronts against the division's bottom club.

City have not notched a win over their near-neighbours since 1977 - and their home form against the relegation pack this season is just as poor.

Stoke are the only team in the bottom six not to get some reward from the Bradford & Bingley Stadium. Walsall and Brighton both claimed away wins last month while the games with Grimsby and Derby finished 0-0.

But lifted by back-to-back wins, including Saturday's injury-time triumph at Derby, City go into action tonight brimming with confidence.

And skipper Wetherall believes they can turn that into a long-overdue victory over the club he supported as a boy.

Wetherall said: "It would be fantastic if we could follow up the Derby game with another win, and there's no reason why we can't - although we know it won't be easy. They are scrapping for their lives and our record against them is poor, but then so is our record here against teams who are struggling.

"But if we can put that right then it will put us almost there to the safety target.

"We are in the last few yards of the race. If we do win, then all we have to do is duck for the tape."

Having climbed to 18th, City can take advantage of a full midweek programme by moving further into mid-table. With survival so close, Nicky Law's men have no intention of easing off.

Wetherall added: "We're only two points behind Crystal Palace and after beating them Trevor Francis was still talking about the play-offs. Have we got a chance of that still?"

City boss Law said: "We are reaping the rewards of the hard work we put in when we were going nowhere in the table. The others have petered off and seeing us climb a few places does everyone the world of good.

"Wednesday fans make that much noise it will be like a home game for them. They are fighting for survival and desperately need the points but so do we to reach the 50 mark as soon as possible."