PHIL Parkinson is confident he can instil the belief in City to end their high-flying hoodoo at Peterborough.

The Bantams have managed just one win against top-half opponents in League One this season – a last-gasp victory over Port Vale in August when Devante Cole struck on his debut. They have taken only nine points from a possible 42 in those 14 games.

Saturday’s deflating defeat at Burton was the latest example of a shortcoming that threatens to derail their play-off ambitions.

But Parkinson, who is still on the midfield loan hunt, is determined to revive spirits in time for the weekend trip to eighth-placed Posh.

He said: “We were annoyed we got beaten but now the dust has settled. We’ve got to calmly look at the reasons why and plan our best way forward.

“There were too many poor performances on Saturday but now we’ve got to lift everybody. There’s a large part of the season to go.

“We’ve got to get the team set up right and make sure they have that real belief and confidence in the group that we can get a result.

“I believe there is, I really do. We’ve got the players capable of doing that.”

City have taken only one point from four away games since winning at Chesterfield the week before Christmas. They have let in three each time in the three losses to Sheffield United, Gillingham and Burton.

Parkinson will be at London Road tomorrow to spy on Peterborough in their FA Cup replay with West Brom.

He added: “We’ve just got to get back to the drawing board this week and come up with a formula and team that can go to Peterborough and show a real fighting spirit.

“If we do that, we’ll be off and running again. Things can change that quickly.

“Look at Newcastle in the Premier League. They had a terrible performance in getting beaten 3-0 at Everton and then turned it round with a terrific win against West Bromwich Albion a few days later.”

Parkinson’s resources will be boosted by the return of James Meredith and Reece Burke to full fitness.

“Mezza should be back fit. He had the problem with his foot but obviously we had to bring him on when Greg (Leigh) got cramp.

“Reece is going to get another week’s training in him, which he needs to be ready for the game.”