STEPHEN Warnock insists City’s late surge has been driven by the pain they felt from the Blackpool battering.

Tuesday’s win over MK Dons extended the run to eight points from the four games since the Bantams were hammered 5-0 at Bloomfield Road.

The play-offs may still be a long shot but the upturn in results has maintained their slim interest with three to play.

Veteran Warnock admitted there had needed to be some soul-searching in the dressing room after the Blackpool humiliation.

He said: “We all had to look at ourselves in the mirror after that game. We had to get some pride back in the team for the fans.

“As players you don’t ever want people singing ‘you’re not fit to wear the shirt’ at you.

“Fair play to the lads for sticking together and we’ve come out the other side.”

The 36-year-old is hanging up his boots at the end of the season and has been determined not to bow out after such a long stint in the game on such a low.

“I can’t remember ever hearing that before,” he added. “That was the one thing that hurt me.

“When you hear that towards the end of your career, you don’t want to finish on that note. It was tough to take.

“There was a lot of pride hurt against Blackpool. But it has picked back up and it’s not easy to do that.

“People just think you have to bounce back and you will. But when your confidence is that low, it is very difficult.

"But we’ve done it in a positive way and we’re playing in a better shape as a team.

“We’re a lot more organised and the two lads up front are key to what we’re doing. They are closing down and really setting the tempo.

“The lads know they have to be professional and work hard every day.

“The senior players try and set that tone round the building to pass it on to the others and it seems to be working at the moment.”

City’s form at Valley Parade has improved under Simon Grayson. Having won three of the last four at home, they are aiming to maintain that run in the upcoming double header against Southend and Walsall.

Warnock said: “We want the fans to come and enjoy seeing a winning team. That’s all they want.

“Sometimes you want to play football that’s more pleasing on the eye but you have to adapt to the conditions and the pitch.

“You have to start a certain way, which we have done and we’ve stayed in the game for longer. Then we build from there – and we’re doing that very well.”