GARY Liddle today issued his new year’s resolution for City – to keep chasing the League One leading set.

The Bantams have snatched 17 points from a possible 21 since their last loss against Doncaster on November 1 to power up to fifth.

They are still eight points adrift of fourth-placed MK Dons, who have played a game less, but Liddle believes the current momentum can help them close the gap.

He said: “It still seems like we’re about 30 points off fourth! The four clubs above us continue picking up points.

“But we’ll keep chipping away at them. We’ve reduced that deficit again on fourth place and the longer we can keep the run intact, the more points we’ll pick up.

“It wasn’t that long ago when we went a couple of months only winning two games in 13. The way the squad and staff have turned it round is great.

“It’s about getting that consistency. I’ve played in this league a number of years and if you get that run going like we have been then confidence just builds.

“It’s a happy training ground at the moment. The lads are all pulling together and Bradford City is a good place to be.”

Liddle ruled the roost in midfield against his old club Notts County on Sunday to overshadow Bantams' Wembley legends Gary Jones and Garry Thompson on their Valley Parade return.

He said: “They got the ovation they rightly deserved for what they’ve done here over the last couple of years.

“To come up against them was always going to be tough and it proved that. Notts were obviously unbeaten away this year and we made a point of that before the game – the manager said it in his team talk and we wanted to be the ones to put an end to that.

“Both teams had past players out there so it was a good occasion for fans to reminisce – and shout a bit of abuse at certain ones.

“I enjoyed it and being on the right side of the result made it all worthwhile.

“I thought we could have won it by a bigger margin because we were that dominant. On a personal note, putting one over my old team was what I wanted to do.”

Liddle also acknowledged the efforts of former Notts team-mate Alan Sheehan, who stepped in for hamstring victim Andrew Davies. It was the Irish defender’s first involvement for seven games.

Liddle added: “It was written in the script for Sheez to come on early and I thought he was terrific.

“He was dominant in the air in the second half. He headed it, cleared it and battled bravely with the rest of the back four to keep that clean sheet.”

City take a break from league action when they face Championship strugglers Millwall in next weekend’s FA Cup third round. Liddle insists the pressure will be off at the Den.

“We’ve got nothing to lose against a Championship team and we can go there full of confidence.

“Seven wins in nine is a terrific way to go to Millwall and it would be great to reach the next round of the FA Cup before getting back to business in the league.”