HEAD coach Geoff Toovey is appealing to Bradford Bulls fans to turn up in droves for the last home game of the season against Rochdale Hornets.

The Bulls may have been relegated from the Kingstone Press Championship, but victory this weekend would make it five wins from six, and there is also the carrot of defeating a team that have turned them over twice earlier this campaign.

Given that, Toovey is hoping for a lift from the home spectators at the end of the most trying of seasons.

The Australian said: "I have said it all year – we have the best fan base in the Championship by far, and the turnout was great last week (at Dewsbury), which the players really appreciate, and hopefully we can win this game against a Rochdale side that have beaten us twice, and that the fans turn up in droves.

"That would be really fantastic, and it is part of the reason why I came here to experience the culture of rugby league in England."

Toovey has noticed a definite lift within the club in a run in which they have notched successive away wins against Oldham, Swinton Lions, Sheffield Eagles and Dewsbury Rams, ironically losing their home match against Batley Bulldogs.

He said: "There is definitely a different spirit within the team, and the fans have picked up a bit as well.

"We had a bit of a hiccup against Batley, when it was probably our worst performance of the season, but we have got back, and it has been a highlight, particularly under the circumstances with the players finishing off here at Bradford.

"It has been difficult for them personally I would imagine to get up for those games, but they have done it because of their team spirit, and hopefully we can continue that tomorrow."

Toovey was critical of stoppages in play helping Hornets to their June victory over the Bulls, but the Australian said: "I can't comment on the history between Rochdale and the Bulls, but what I do know that they are one of the few sides that have beaten us twice this year, so it would be nice to get one of those games back in our last home game.

"They are a solid side who get through their sets, their coach has done a good job, they are a very consistent side and if we make the same number of errors as we did last week they will make you pay, and we need to be better.

As for the victory over Dewsbury, Toovey said: "It was a great gutsy win because of the amount of ball that we didn't have.

"We were one from six in good balls in the second half, which equates to about 17 per cent completions, so we really put ourselves under a lot of pressure, but Dewsbury did a similar thing and really had trouble holding onto the ball.

"We will need to be much better this week against Rochdale. We need to go set for set with them and we cannot afford to be one from six in good ball towards the back end of the game."

* Bulls season tickets for 2018 are on sale at early-bird prices of £149 for adults, £99 for concessions and £49 for juniors.