When Bradford City travel to Birmingham City this weekend for their promotion showdown, it heralds the start of what could prove to be a crucial four weeks for Paul Jewell's men.

The Sky cameras will be at St Andrews to capture what should be a fascinating clash between two of the form teams in the First Division.

The Blues have won four and drawn two of their last six league games while Paul Jewell's men have claimed six victories from their previous seven outings.

The clash is undoubtedly important for both sides with the Bantams determined to earn at least a point to maintain their current four point lead over the fourth-placed Blues.

However as vital as the game is for both clubs' promotion prospects, City will be heartened by the fact that the clash is the last time they have to visit one of their serious promotion rivals this season.

Instead, their rivals have to come to Valley Parade with Sunderland, Norwich, Watford, Ipswich and West Brom all yet to visit Bradford.

And that gives City a huge advantage over the rest of the promotion-chasing pack, particularly when you bear in mind the home form which has seen City collect a commendable 32 points from a possible 42 at Valley Parade so far this season.

The trip to St Andrews is followed by a testing February which will reveal whether City have the quality and character to maintain their push for automatic promotion.

Watford and Ipswich are the next visitors to Valley Parade before City go to Sheffield United, who despite a poor recent run are still hoping to force their way into the top six.

The difficult four week spell then finishes with the visit of fast-improving West Brom, who finally appear to have found some consistent form in recent weeks.

Watford have surprised everyone this season, and possibly even themselves,and they are sat just outside the play-off places.

When City lost 1-0 at Vicarage Road back in August - and doesn't that seem a long time ago now? - the home side were very fortunate to earn all three points. The game marked the debut of record signing Isaiah Rankin but the former Arsenal striker could not convert one of the three good chances which came his way.

On the strength of that game I, for one, envisaged a season of struggle for the Hornets. But Watford have proved all the doubters wrong and will be a stiff test for City. They have even survived being without Graham Taylor for several weeks due to illness. Having said that, anyone who has seen the documentary 'Do I Not Like That' from when he was in charge of England, may believe this is a bonus rather than a handicap.

But if Jewell's men are to clinch second place, Watford is one of those games they must be looking to win.

The following Saturday, City get an opportunity to avenge one of their most embarrassing performances of the season when Ipswich are the visitors.

The Suffolk side are struggling to score goals at the moment but I believe their form will return soon and they will prove to be the biggest test for City in February.

City are on Sky again the following Friday when they visit Sheffield United before they look to keep hot shot striker Lee Hughes quiet when West Brom travel to Valley Parade on the final Saturday of the month.

It is a tough four weeks for City and I believe a return of ten points from the next five games will set the Bantams up for the promotion run-in full of confidence.

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