MARK Hughes feels the time is right to get City’s stuttering Valley Parade record back on track and match their “exceptional” away form.

The Bantams are building up to Saturday’s crunch clash with Northampton boosted by a maximum-point week on the road.

A spot in League Two’s top three is up for grabs - if they can nail a first home win in two months.

Hughes’ men have had six unsuccessful attempts in all competitions since beating second-placed Stevenage 3-0 in mid-September.

In contrast, the travel specialists have banked 19 points out of a possible 21 from the last seven away trips.

But Hughes is convinced that confidence on the road will filter through at home against the side currently two points above them.

“Our away form is exceptional,” he said. “We lost a couple of games very early on but since then we’ve won almost every one of them.

“We obviously want to address our form at home. We haven’t been quite as impressive as I know we are capable of.

“But I sense that on the back of the last two performances there is a real determination in our play at the moment.

“I’m looking forward to the game at the weekend. If we beat them, we obviously know we will leap-frog them and get into that top three.”

City are second to leaders Leyton Orient for the most away points in the division. Northampton are the third best travellers with only one loss in nine.

But the Bantams are below mid-table in home terms, despite just the one defeat against Stockport. The last four home games have produced three points.

Hughes admitted: “Obviously when we are playing away, the onus is on the home side to ask questions of us.

“Sometimes that can make things a little bit easier because they over-commit and that allows the game to be a little bit more open and we’ve got players that can exploit that.

“It can be more difficult at home because teams will just sit in and look to hit you on the break and look for moments. But I sense we’re ready to face those challenges again.”

Sam Hoskins, who leads Andy Cook by one on 13 league goals, will be a costly miss for the Cobblers.

The striker's stoppage-time booking in their latest win at Gillingham took him to five and means a one-game ban.

But Hughes is not anticipating Northampton will pack everyone behind the ball and aim to frustrate like so many visiting teams.

“I would imagine they would back their own ability. I would hope so.

“A lot of teams look at us and think they have to have a gameplan because if they open up, they know they’d be at risk.

“I don’t sense Northampton will come with that attitude.”

Hughes is confident that Tyreik Wright will be back in the mix after missing the Sutton win with the back spasm he suffered at Mansfield.

Abo Eisa filled in impressively in his first start for a year but the Republic of Ireland under-21 international expects to be in contention.

Hughes said: “Tyreik should be all right by the weekend. Unfortunately, it just hadn’t loosened up in time to play, but hopefully by next week he should be an option as well.”