CITY need a vocal Valley Parade more than ever for their home double header, Gary Bowyer today pleaded.

The Bantams face Mansfield tomorrow and Morecambe on New Year’s Day looking to get back to winning ways after the recent flurry of draws.

Bowyer’s side are still battling the effects of the sickness bug that continues to drain resources and once more the City boss will leave it late to name a line-up to tackle the Stags.

READ MORE: Patience wears thin after another stalemate

He came under fire from frustrated away fans during Boxing Day’s goalless draw at Carlisle when sections of the away support rounded on his style of play.

But Bowyer is asking for their backing as they go into successive Valley Parade dates that offer the chance to get the promotion bid firmly back on track.

He said: “We need their support at this moment in time.

“I said at the beginning of the season that it’s a two-way relationship.

“You could see the response from the players once they got behind us second half (on Thursday). That’s what it is – a two-way thing.

“We’ll dust ourselves down for our next home game.”

Bowyer admits the disruption caused by players dropping out ill is obviously having an effect. But he has praised the character shown during all the upheaval.

“I asked James Vaughan if he could go on for 15 minutes at Carlisle and he said he could do,” he added. “That then rubs off.

“Ben Richards-Everton did it last Saturday. He came in on the morning and had a fitness test and then said he’d give it a go.

“It tells you more about the individual, which will hold us in good stead for the rest of the season.

“If we take one or two out, then put a couple in, you are seeing the passion they’ve got.”

City have been held to successive draws over the holiday period – and four in the last five.

They are still only a point of an automatic spot but it has cut their advantage in the play-offs to two to eighth-placed Plymouth, who have a game in hand.

Bowyer said: “If we get a couple of wins very quickly, people will be saying ‘what a run they are on’.

“We’re picking up points away from home. Richard O’Donnell was saying that we would have lost that Boxing Day game last year and we haven’t.

“It’s habit building, showing you can fight and keep clean sheets. When everybody’s got through this and we’ve got people back, we’re going to be in a really strong position.”

Mansfield have not won in the league since October. They have drawn twice since former Bristol Rovers boss Graham Coughlan took charge, coming from 2-0 against Port Vale on Boxing Day.