BRADFORD City's women are hoping a weekend off can help them get back to winning ways after playing more games than any other club in their division.

Back-to-back defeats to leaders Blackburn and neighbours Huddersfield have exposed some fatigue, particularly with the latter match going all the way to penalties.

After playing every Sunday for the past 12 weeks, City player-manager Charlotte Stuart believes a day off can do her players the world of good.

She said: "I think this rest week has come at a perfect time. We have a couple of small injuries, so a rest will benefit my players physically but also mentally."

The Bantams put Blackburn to the sword at the back end of last month but decisions went against them and denied them at least a point.

To lose on the lottery of penalties last week then rubbed salt in still-fresh wounds, with City again feeling they did enough to deserve victory.

Stuart can therefore see the benefits of the team taking their minds off football this week.

"Defeats can be tough to take, especially when you are deserving of the win, so rest to recharge and refocus ahead of the County Cup is just what we need," she said.

Bradford start their defence of that regional title next Sunday, visiting Ossett Albion. They have won the competition for the last three seasons and are favourites again this year, being the highest-ranked team outright.

Stuart insists it is not about working on anything particularly different in training this coming week, but to rest up and be ready.

She said: "The key word these past few weeks has been 'unlucky'. On another day, the results would have gone our way. We just have to go again, keep building and fine-tuning the squad."