Football pundit Bobby Ham says City must inject some pace into their forward line if they are to escape relegation.

The former Bantams star has watched all their home games this season as a commentator for Bantams Radio and he has welcomed the news that Paul Jewell is looking for fresh talent.

He said: "Looking at the squad I don't think they have done all that bad. Even I didn't realise how much quicker the Premier League players are.

"City have battling qualities and they will serve them well. Having said that, I don't think we are doing well enough to stay up at the moment.

"What I think we need is some pace because that is the one thing that is lacking. I also believe an extra central midfielder would turn it around."

Isaiah Rankin yesterday joined Birmingham on a month's loan and Ham is hoping he can rediscover his scoring touch.

"We could do with him scoring two or three goals and then coming back here and helping us out."

Ham added: "I think the defence has done well although I would possibly like to see Wayne Jacobs given another chance. He gets on the overlap very well and his distribution is probably a little bit better.

"What disappointed me was to hear the crowd getting on to Paul Jewell last weekend. He has done a tremendous job. Everybody has to pull together."

Meanwhile, City Gent editor Dave Pendleton believes a lot of fans have lost heart in the battle to avoid relegation - but has urged them to keep faith with the Bantams.

The editor of City's long-running fanzine was at Hillsborough last weekend when Sheffield Wednesday comfortably won 2-0.

Asked what he thought should be done to turn City's season round, he joked: "We need four defenders, four midfielders and two strikers - our goalkeeper is quite good!"

He then added: "What we are seeing from some fans at the moment is a knee-jerk reaction. If we beat Watford this weekend then people will no doubt say we are back on track.

"People seem to have lost heart. I haven't because I think we need to keep everything in perspective. If we implode now then I think we will go down.

"If we are honest, every other team has more quality than us. We rely on fighting spirit. If we as fans don't back the players, then who else is going to?

"A few years ago we lost 2-0 at home to Birmingham near the end of the season and everyone said we were doomed and certain to go down from Division One. But we didn't."

Asked about the booing and chants of "You don't know what you're doing" aimed at manager Paul Jewell when he substituted Stuart McCall last weekend, he said: "That was pure frustration.

"People wondered why he left Neil Redfearn on instead of Stuart."

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