MANAGER Peter Jackson today underlined the major importance of the holiday programme for Town, starting with Saturday's derby crunch against Bradford (noon).

Town have slipped to 11th in the table with just one victory (down at Swindon) in the last six League I outings, but they remain only four points and places behind Bradford, who are on the fringe of the play-off placings.

Jackson, who has no immediate plans to add to his squad with a fresh signing, believes Town can close that gap with a flourish over Christmas and New Year.

Central to those hopes are home games against Bradford, Port Vale (on Boxing Day), Bristol City (January 3) and Torquay United (January 8).

"Four out of the next six matches are here at the Galpharm and we have to make those count," said Jackson today.

"You've only got to look at what a five-match winning run earlier in the season did for Bradford to see that we can quickly be back up there.

"I've said all along that our away form isn't that bad and it's at home where we've got to buck our ideas up, and we need to start now.

"We've never been that far off the play-off placings in terms of points and, if we can string a run together on the back of some solid home results, we'll be right in the thick of it."

Jackson, who has a 1-1 draw, a 2-1 win and a 3-2 win against Bradford in three attempts as a manager, added:

"When we play like we can, we can beat anybody in this division.

"We are a force to be reckoned with and some better results at home will go a long way to proving that."