ACCRINGTON make their first visit to Valley Parade in nearly five years but City will know exactly what to expect.

Jon Coleman’s side have reacted well to relegation back to the fourth tier and sit in the final play-off spot following last week’s win over Wrexham.

Ending the Welsh side’s 11-game unbeaten run might have been viewed as an upset by some. But Stanley and the wily Coleman have bloodied plenty of noses down the years.

“The beauty of Accrington Stanley is about being rich in passion and pride and desire,” he told the club website.

“When we come off that, we get disappointed with ourselves. We’re desperately upset when it goes wrong.

“If we’re at full throttle every time we play, we’ve got a good chance of winning games of football – certainly in this league.

“We’ve got to try and eke out every last drop of what we’ve got in the squad.

“The players have responded to criticism, and not just by me.

“We try to constructively criticise and it’s an open forum. We believe in trying to unpick it as a squad.”

Coleman made seven changes for the midweek defeat to Nottingham Forest under-21s in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy, although Stanley still qualified for the knock-out stages.

But Jack Nolan, making his 50th appearance, added to a lengthening casualty list when he was forced off with a hamstring injury in added time.

Joe Pritchard and veteran Shaun Whalley had both missed the Wrexham game and Rosaire Longelo suffered an ankle problem soon after scoring the second goal against Phil Parkinson’s side.

City beat Accrington on penalties in the Carabao Cup at the start of the season – with home striker Korede Adedoyin turned into an unfortunate laughingstock in front of the away fans when he slipped over taking his spot-kick.

But Coleman believes Adedoyin will face the Bantams again in his best form.

“Korede, when he’s at it, is as good as anybody in our league – it’s just keeping him at it. He’s a constant thorn in the side.”

Accrington’s tally of 249 fouls is the highest in League Two to underline their competitive nature. Josh Andrews has given away the most in the division with 36 – four more than City’s Jamie Walker.

City’s ill-fated appearance on Sky last week against Notts County also gave the Stanley squad a sneak preview of their upcoming opponents before they had taken on Wrexham.

Coleman added: “Most of us watched the Notts County game beforehand and you saw the goals that were scored by both teams and the chances that were presented.

“That’s representative of the league. Lots of chances are made and keeping them out is vital to any team.

“But then you’ve got to be clinical when you get your opportunities.”