Colin Todd is calling on City to play without fear against leaders Swansea on Saturday.

The Welsh side returned to the League One summit with a debut hat-trick from new signing Leon Knight against MK Dons.

But Todd is hoping the size of City's task at Valley Parade will inspire them to the victory they desperately need to regain lost ground.

"It's a good challenge and we'll have to be on the top of our game," Todd said. "Swansea have gone extremely well and going back top of the table again sets it up nicely.

"They're on 47 points now but if we beat them we'd only be ten behind which isn't the biggest gap in the world to make up.

"Swansea like to attack, they score a lot of goals and it's our job to push them back. But when we've seen teams like that come to our place, we've given them a good game."

Twelfth- placed City are eight points adrift of Barnsley in the final play-off spot although they have played a game more. They must start winning to keep the season alive.

Todd added: "We're now down to 19 games left and there is no room for error. We have to make sure we play with more freedom.

"I want to see us more relaxed and more able to express ourselves as individuals and harness that into the team. And we need to get the two wide players higher up the pitch where they are best suited rather than having to track back."

Striker Michael Symes made his first appearance of the season for the reserves at Huddersfield.

"A lot of people have forgotten him because he has never featured at all," Todd added. "But hopefully he is on the right road now after a catalogue of injuries."

Symes was due to join Macclesfield on loan before he shattered ankle ligaments. And City may still allow him to go elsewhere for first-team experience.