Geoffrey Richmond today urged City fans to bolster the club's cause in their "critical" match with Portsmouth this weekend.

The club is offering a cut-price ticket deal to season ticket holders to boost the Valley Parade crowd against the south-coast side.

The match is becoming increasingly significant with the Bantams out to end a five-match losing run against fellow-strugglers Pompey in a bid to avoid the season slipping into a relegation battle.

Under the cut-price offer, season ticket holders can buy four tickets - for adults or senior citizens - at just £5 per ticket.

"It will be Nicky Law's first home game in charge and we want to turn it into a massive occasion," Richmond said.

"The team are having a bad time of things at the moment and really need the fans' support.

"We have now had five consecutive defeats but I feel that if a large partisan crowd gets behind the side, which has been ravaged by injury and suspension, then it could make a vital difference.

"This will be a critical game because we are just six points above the relegation zone."

The City chairman is hoping loyal season ticket holders will bring along friends and loved ones to roar on the side. Children's tickets cost just £2.

He added: "Now like never before, we do need the supporters to get behind the team. The fans have been magnificent through the eight years I have been here.

"But I have got to say we are facing potentially the biggest crisis on the field in my time here.

"I remember saying in my first programme notes: 'United we stand, divided we fall.' That was true then and even more true now.

"We need a wall of sound on Saturday. The supporters really can make a major difference when Saturday's crucial match takes place."