Peter Taylor today warned sinking City: Don’t expect any favours to get out of this slump.

Last night’s loss at Aldershot was the third on the bounce as the Bantams fluffed another chance to close in on the top half.

The City chief acknowledged that confidence has tailed off with the poor run – but they will have to tough it out.

“I can understand the players aren’t in top form but we’ve got to overcome it,” said Taylor.

“It’s a beautiful game we’re involved in but also a very tough one. Nobody’s going to give you a goal or a win; you’ve got to earn that result.

“We’ve got to keep working extremely hard as a group. Some of the players will have been through this before but it will be new to others.

“Our season has been nowhere near good enough and I hold my hands up to that.

“If we were top of the table I’d be happy to take the praise. But we’re not so I’ll take that on the chin.”

Defender Anthony Charles scored the Aldershot winner, just like last season. But Taylor could point to missed opportunities from Tom Adeyemi, Richard Eckersley and Mark Cullen.

He said: “You’ve got to take chances. I’m not saying we started the game greatly but we had better chances before they scored.

“If one of them had gone in, it could have been a different kettle of fish.

“Goalscorers get you a goal when you deserve them and often when you don’t. But we’re not scoring enough.”

City also fear Lee Bullock will be out for the next month after injuring a thigh muscle.

With Tommy Doherty facing an ankle operation tomorrow, it leaves Taylor short in the centre of midfield.

He admitted: “It doesn’t look a very good one with Lee and I’d be surprised if it’s not a month. We’ll look when it settles down and then take things from there.”

Jon McLaughlin came in back for Lenny Pidgeley, who was ill, and Taylor felt the keeper impressed in his first outing since the end of October.

He said: “I was very pleased with Jon. As much as I’m disappointed with the result, there were still some good performances and I think Jon was one of them.”