A play-off place tops James Meredith’s wish-list for Christmas.

The classy left back makes his 50th league start in a City shirt tonight against bottom club Notts County looking to firm up their position in League One’s top six.

With approaching fixtures against leaders Leyton Orient, Peterborough and Rotherham, December promises to be a test of their resolve.

But Saturday’s success at MK Dons eased the Bantams back into the play-off zone – somewhere Meredith intends to stay.

He said: “We are where we deserve to be. Leading up to Christmas, I think we’ll slowly cement more of a spot in the play-offs.

“That’s my aim to be in and around that top six at Christmas and New Year, then it’s all downhill after that.

“We’ve not got the excuse of any cup run distracting us so we should be trying to push ourselves into that leading group.

“It’s not as intense as last year in terms of the amount of games. That gives you more time to prepare and get ready but then again the opposition is better and harder to break down.

“You can’t make the mistakes you might have done in League Two and expect to get away with them. We’re facing better attacking players.”

Notts County were the opponents when Meredith made his City debut 15 months ago at the start of what proved to be a momentous Capital One Cup run and season.

He is one of the first names on the team sheet and has earned plenty of admirers with his composure and quality as well as a willingness to bomb forward at every opportunity.

There is also an honesty about his approach – something that was evident in the last home game against Coventry when he resisted the temptation to go to ground after being caught by a stray boot in the box.

Meredith had in fact stepped on the defender’s outstretched foot himself, losing his balance in the process.

He added: “Just as I was about to cross the ball, the thought did cross my mind that I could have gone down. I was very much off balance when I took my next step but didn’t tumble over.

“If he’d caught me I probably would have but because I stood on his foot, in that split second I decided not to.

“It’s something the manager really drills into us to be honest in your workload, your approach and attitude and willingness to win.

“He makes it very clear that no matter how good your ability is, if you’re not honest he doesn’t want you in his team.”

With the seven-match win drought put to bed, City are chasing a first Valley Parade victory since September.

Meredith said: “We’ve been missing that consistency in the team. It hasn’t helped with Nahki Wells getting injured and then Andrew Davies.

“The team’s been mixed about a bit and now we’re finding our feet again.

“Now it’s about going back to basics and playing with a calm head to get those points on the board.”