It has been a long time since Peter Thorne played at Accrington Stanley.

But the experienced City hitman is not expecting things to look too different.

After the bumper holiday crowds for the last two games at Valley Parade, the Bantams kick off 2008 at the smallest ground in the Football League tomorrow.

But they will not lack for motivation in the spartan surroundings of Stanley's Fraser Eagle Stadium. The result in their first meeting three months ago will make certain of that.

City's 3-0 home slump still ranks as the lowest point of a disappointing campaign - and the players are desperate to settle a score this afternoon.

"That was an absolute nightmare performance," admitted Thorne, whose evening was made even worse by a rib injury that forced him to miss the next five games.

"We owe them one after what happened and I'm sure the lads will be well up for that.

"I'm looking forward to seeing Accrington again. I've not been there for a long time since I was a kid at Blackburn.

"We used to play against them in the A team but I've not been back since, though I wouldn't imagine it's changed."

Thorne was bitterly upset to finish with nothing against Hereford on Saturday but admits City were their own worst enemies.

"It was very annoying but we gave it away from the set-pieces. If we'd stayed a bit more focused on those then we'd have had a very good chance.

"We started off playing some good football and, even though they were a good team, I fancied us."

Thorne scored the opener in the Boxing Day win over Lincoln and thought he had levelled on Saturday. Within a minute of David Wetherall firing City back in the game, the striker went agonisingly close to turning home an Alex Rhodes cross.

He added: "I really thought I would score. Alex did so well to get the ball back and I got a touch at the near post - but their guy just managed to do the same.

"Then they broke away and scored again. So instead of going in at half-time level, we were 3-1 down, which was devastating.

"I still thought we could get back in it but the conditions didn't help and the second half became a bit of a grind."

Once Accrington is out of the way, City will have 11 days before their next game against Notts County. Thorne feels the players need a break after the hectic festive fixture-list.

"There are that many games at this time of year that it's crazy. You look at the Spanish leagues and places like that and they all shut down.

"It's all about trying to make sure your body recovers in time and getting yourself right for the next game because the pitches are very heavy. Physically it takes so much out of you."

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