GARY Liddle is urging City to buck up their ideas - to avoid any more video nasties.

Phil Parkinson subjected his players to a painful re-run of their dismal home loss to Gillingham and then publicly laid into them.

Wounded City responded with their first clean sheet of the season at Barnsley, justifying the manager’s tough stance.

Liddle said: “I could see exactly why the manager spoke out about wanting people to play for the shirt.

“I watched the video and it wasn’t pretty viewing.

“It was one of those meetings where you’re hoping you don’t get pointed out but I think everyone did. All the lads had to hold their hands up for playing so badly.

“It was a very poor performance and one we were desperately determined to put right. I think we did that against Barnsley.”

City looked much tougher to break down at Oakwell after Parkinson accused them of being “soft-centred” over the goals they have conceded so far.

Liddle stressed that must be the way forward again to get their season up and running.

He added: “We had a steeliness about us last week and that’s Bradford City. That’s the first thing the manager asks for.

“Before you talk about quality and the football itself, it’s about having that pride and fight about you to work for the shirt.

“It’s a trait that’s been there since they came in four years ago. That has never changed.

“We’ve got to carry that on now and hopefully have no more meetings.”

Today’s opponents Port Vale had a gruelling Capital One Cup trip to West Brom on Tuesday. They were eventually beaten on penalties after 90 minutes and extra-time failed to produce a goal.

City have had a free week to work on training and Liddle admitted to mixed feelings.

He said: “It would have been nice to still be involved when you’re watching the cup games on TV, especially after what happened last season.

“But it’s given the manager and Parky (Steve Parkin) the chance to iron out a few things on the training pitch.

“We’ve not had the perfect start and would have liked to grab a win or two. But hopefully we’re going the right way now.

“The Port Vale game is another good opportunity against a good team. We’re at home, where we’ve not picked up as many points as we’d have liked to, and it’s a chance to put that right.”