STEPHEN Darby wants City to stretch their unbeaten run over the holiday period but insisted: “Form is about the whole season, not just for Christmas.”

The Bantams head into the festive fixtures in the chasing pack of clubs just behind the top six. Without a defeat since November 1, they are currently just a point off the play-offs.

Darby is confident they can keep up the current charge over the weekend double header against Fleetwood and Notts County.

With two games just 48 hours apart, the top end of the League One table could look very different. The skipper hopes City can be well positioned in the shake-up but insists it is not the be-all and end-all.

Darby said: “There are so many games in a short space of time. Put a few results together and you’ll be right in the thick of it.

“This is a big period and it would be brilliant to be going into the new year in the top six.

“But you don’t just pin your hopes on the Christmas period. You’ve got to have that consistency right throughout the season.”

Scunthorpe’s late equaliser at Valley Parade denied City the kudos of a sixth-place spot at Christmas but the 1-1 draw still made it seven games without a loss for Phil Parkinson’s improving side.

Darby has been pleased with the progress in his first season since inheriting the captain’s armband from Gary Jones.

He added: “We’re not getting carried away but, at the same time, we can take confidence from this run.

“Hopefully we can build on what we have done so far and keep pushing on from now to the end of the season.

“As I’ve always said, it’s a massive honour to captain the club and one that I’m really proud of.

“But it’s not just about me. Everyone in the dressing room mucks in and looks out for each other.

“It’s the starting 11 and the squad that have got us this far.”

Jones and Garry Thompson return to Valley Parade on Sunday with Notts County and Darby is looking forward to an emotion-charged affair.

“It will add an extra edge with them coming back. They were two really good lads, great players for us and great friends as well.

“I’m sure they will get a very good reception for what they did for the club over the two years, with the promotion and the Capital One Cup run.

“They are close friends but we all know that once you get on the pitch, that’s where that friendship ends for 90 minutes – we’ll want to get one over them.”