THEY say a week can be a long time in politics – it can feel like a lifetime in football.

Back-to-back defeats against Peterborough and Colchester have knocked the shine off City's season and made the recent unbeaten streak feel like a distant memory.

Skipper Stephen Darby admitted it is time to turn the clock back by rediscovering that earlier form with an old-school Bradford City display against Rochdale.

"We've had two difficult games and the only way we're going to change things is by showing that fight and character," he said.

"We were on a good run and then to lose the home game was disappointing. We wanted to bounce back and I didn't think the performance at Colchester was too bad.

"But they are the team going well and things went for them again. So now it's important after two defeats that we do respond in the right way at Rochdale."

With the campaign ten games old, the table is starting to take shape and City are currently perched uncomfortably close to the bottom four.

Yet they were nudging the play-off places when 2-0 up against Sheffield United before that double setback.

Darby said: "It's only a week ago that we were on a five-game unbeaten run. A week's a long time in football but it's up to us now to put things right and get back on track.

"We know what to expect. Rochdale are a high-tempo side that like to press – but we went there last year and got a great result, so we know we're more than capable.

"It was a really good away performance and we'll be looking for more of the same application. We were quite solid and ruthless with our chances. A repeat of that would be great this weekend."

Darby had a season at Spotland on loan from Liverpool and played under two bosses, Steve Eyre and John Colman. But it is Keith Hill, now firmly ensconced in his second spell in charge, who has been the driving force of Dale's progress.

Darby said: "He's had many years at Rochdale and done a really good job. He left for a while but came back and he's made them a strong team.

"There are a lot of clubs round that area but they are in a good position in the league and that's obviously credit to Keith.

"But hopefully after the game we'll be talking more about ourselves. We need to concentrate on our own performance and how we apply ourselves."

Dale old boy Rory McArdle will bolster the back four after missing the Colchester defeat with a stomach illness. He was back in training yesterday and reported no ill effects.

But it was the presence of another familiar face at Apperley Bridge that put a collective spring in the step during City's preparations.

Darby admitted he was delighted to see Kyel Reid back in the ranks once more at the start of his month's loan from Preston.

The City captain said: "It's great to have Reidy back. We all know the ability he has got. Seeing him training again, it's as if he has never left the place.

"He's got bags of pace, loads of energy and loves to get at defenders. He's got that spark and hopefully that will make a difference for us."