STUART McCall insists third-from-bottom City must not get too fixated on the League Two table.

The Bantams boss shares the growing concern over the club’s lowest position since November 2011.

But as they head into a Valley Parade clash with fifth-placed Carlisle, McCall reminded players and supporters there is so much of the season to go.

He said: “I know we’re at the bottom end, of course, and we’ve got to look to get out of that as soon as we can. But the league doesn’t finish tomorrow.

“We’ve got over 30 games left. That’s not being blasé because we know we need to start picking up points.

“But where we are at this moment can’t affect the confidence and the nature of how we go about our business.

“It’s not something I’ve spoken to the players about or drawn attention to. We’ve just got to focus on the next game and the next chance to win three points, young or old.

“Sometimes youngsters play with no fear and maybe just go out and don’t think about it.

“It’s not an area of the table we hoped to be but that’s where we are. We can only change that by putting in strong performances from now on.

“I’m sure there are not going to be many positives on social media at this moment and understandably so.

“But we’re hoping to spin that round in the next few months.”

McCall decided that rushing Lee Novak back tomorrow would be “too much of a gamble” after the striker’s first full day’s training in six weeks.

He is set to stick with the same squad from Tuesday but hopes that Bryce Hosannah and Callum Cooke will be able to stay on for longer after their recent injuries.

McCall said: “Bryce does do a lot of high-intensity running but hopefully we can go into the game knowing that Bryce doesn’t have to come off after an hour or Cookie.

“Bringing off two lads who are influential to the team is challenging as well. But after the experience we’ve had with Zeli (Ismail), Reece Staunton, Evo (Gareth Evans) and others, we’ve got to stick to the science.”

City’s home loss to Cheltenham on Tuesday was their fourth in a row and they were leapfrogged by Mansfield to drop into 22nd spot.

The Bantams have lost the last two after scoring first and McCall admitted that the latest defeat was tough to take. But he refuses to allow any moping in the dressing room.

“You know with me that I can’t do with long faces and doom and gloom,” he added.

“I don’t expect them to come in skipping and jumping and doing cartwheels but I don’t want a negative vibe.

“What’s gone has gone. Yeah it was a real kick in the guts, as was Orient the week before with the effort they put in.

“But we can’t change what has happened and have to go full steam ahead tomorrow.

“We have to scrap and fight for every ball, tackle, goal and point. Once you get a good result, and maybe knit a couple together, the confidence grows.

“Of course, we’re all hugely disappointed to be where we are at the table. But if takes a month or two, however long, we will get there.”