Stuart McCall wants his players to ask themselves why City are so far down the table - and what they are going to do about it.

The Bantams boss admits the season so far has been nowhere near good enough.

And he is questioning how much his squad want to better themselves.

McCall was disappointed to see two points slip from their grasp in Wednesday's 0-0 draw at bottom club Mansfield.

Having created four good chances in the first half, hitting the woodwork twice through Omar Daley and Barry Conlon, City went off the boil after the break.

And as they head for Chesterfield on Saturday, McCall is ready to crack the whip with those who are happy to drift along.

"I want to over-achieve not under-achieve," he said. "We are where we are in the table because that's how good we've been.

"I know we should have more points and be sitting healthy in mid-table but I still think there's so much more to come from a lot of these individuals.

"We are so hot and cold - frustrating isn't the word. I can't understand how sometimes we can be very good and the next minute look so poor.

"We're always demanding more from the players but they've got to demand more from themselves. This is the level they are playing at - if they want to do better then they have to prove it.

"I know what they are capable of but you can't just do it one week and not the next. Being great for ten minutes and then do nothing for the rest of the game gets you nowhere.

"You need that consistency from striving to do your best and pushing yourself all the time. You shouldn't just accept things as they are, it's like any walk of life.

"Everyone goes through a rough patch but if it's not working out with your dribbling or your passing there are other parts of the game like using your strength against the opponent, running as fast as him and competing just as hard.

"It's all about the desire to be as good as you can but that's got to come from within."

Mark Bower trained again today but is not expected to be risked at Saltergate. Alex Rhodes and Eddie Johnson are still out, which limits McCall's options.

Chesterfield have struggled at home but McCall is still expecting a tough test from Lee Richardson's side.

"I know Lee well and he must be wondering why they can win well away at the top places like MK Dons and Peterborough and then struggle to find their form at home.

"Bradford have not had a good record there recently but it's down to us to change that. We've got to push ourselves more.

"I watched the Mansfield game again and in the second half we've had three or four free-kicks and four or five corners in dangerous areas. We put some decent balls in but just didn't have that conviction or belief to finish them off.

"I don't want anyone in the comfort zone. We aren't good enough to be in the comfort zone."

  • Start or join a debate on this issue in our online forum - Click here