Bradford City manager Phil Parkinson has urged his players to pick themselves up again after Tuesday's 6-0 defeat by newly-promoted Bristol City.

Parkinson is urging his players to correct their poor form
Parkinson is urging his players to correct their poor form

The Bantams face a trip to Bramall Lane this Saturday for the Yorkshire derby against Sheffield United and are looking to put the midweek defeat be hide them.

But although City's play-off dreams are almost certainly over for this season, Parkinson is keen to finish in the highest position that they can and they and beat last seasons place of 11th.

Bradford have four games left of the season and after the trip to Sheffield, they then play their final home game of the season against Barnsley in between trips to Scunthrope United and on the final day, Crewe Alexandra.

Parkinson told the club's official website, "The lads have been so desperate to keep themselves in and around those Play-Off positions come the end of the season, I think the realisation that was slipping away was a bit too much for them.

"We had a good chat with them on Wednesday, however, and they now know that we must put in a performance worthy of Bradford City this Saturday.

"As much as it hurt for us on Tuesday night, we can't feel sorry for ourselves anymore. No one else is going to put things right.

"We have enjoyed so many good moments this season but the lads, like the rest of us, are only human.

"They have all wanted it so badly - I think you could see that at Gillingham last Saturday when they were all on the floor after getting beaten.

"Our pride was dented on Tuesday and we have four games now to put things right again.

"It is important that we pick ourselves up for these games. We have forged a reputation as a group who put in honest and committed performances, and we have to keep that.

"The aim now has to be to end the season higher than we finished last year."

Parkinson added that he could make changes ahead of the trip to Bramall Lane as Mark Yates has an on-going shoulder problem and Gary MacKenzie needing a check-up after playing with an ankle knock.

"We are down to the bare bones again a bit for the weekend but we have to find a team and set-up which we think will give us the best chance at Sheffield United."