NATHAN CLARKE can't wait for his first senior derby against Bradford City and vowed: "We'll be up for it!"

Bewildered by Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park, Clarke insists the squad won't dwell on the disappointment.

With a four-point gap to close on the play-off placings, he's already looking positively ahead.

"Bradford is a massive game for us and the gaffer has already been concentrating on getting our heads up and making sure we are mentally right for the big game," said Clarke.

"I've played against Bradford a couple of times in the youth team and, while that's not the same, it's always intense against them.

"The fans will be up for it and we will be up for it and, by Saturday, I'm sure we'll be flying.

"We need to start picking up our home form in any case if we are going to push up the table this season, so we've got to make sure we win the battle, take the three points and then look forward to Boxing Day against Port Vale."

While Town were losing, Bradford had a late David Wetherall equaliser to thank for their 1-1 home draw with Walsall.

"We started uncharacteristically badly on Saturday at Oldham and I don't know why," said Clarke.

"We wanted to be up and at them from the start, but it just didn't happen.

"You have to give Oldham credit for that, but we were all over them in the second half and just couldn't score."