STUART McCall has challenged City to answer the critics who have written them off after a month from hell.

McCall is determined that the five-game losing run will not blow a hole in their ambitions for this season.

Yet he understands why many are viewing City's current slump as terminal.

As he began the process of repairing morale following the home humiliation against Wimbledon, the Bantams boss admitted: "There's no getting away from the fact that January has been abysmal.

"It's also a fact that our home form this season has been abysmal. The number of goals we've conceded has been abysmal.

"On the other side of the coin, thankfully the away performances have been excellent. The win ratio has been over 50 per cent, which has kept us up in the mix.

"Everyone thinks we've gone now. Opposition teams will think that there's no comeback with the results we've had.

"In fairness, the majority of supporters will probably think that. Again in all honesty, there might be a few in the dressing room who have that mindset. This is where we've got to be strong."

Four league defeats on the bounce have loosened City's grip on a top-six place. The three teams behind in League One could all overtake with games in hand.

McCall is well aware they must also stop the rot for the sake of his own position – and is targeting at least a win and draw from two pivotal fixtures coming up against strugglers Oldham and Bury.

The Bantams boss said: "We've got to make sure January has gone. We can't revisit it and must turn it round in February.

"I'm confident we can go to Oldham and get a result. We've got to believe – and I do believe – that this can still be a successful season.

"We've had a huge slump and we've got to get out of it. I'd say we've got to get a minimum four points from the next two games.

"I think the club have progressed on the pitch in the 18 months we've been in.

"We got to Wembley, which was a progression on the season before. When we won at Fleetwood (on New Year's Day), we had more points than at the same stage last season.

"But we don't want to throw 18 months of progression this club have had on the pitch down the spout in one month.

"It's a huge challenge. I'm not naive – I know that if we don't get results in the next couple of games then I won't be here.

"It's our aim now to make February a good month. We've got to get over the window tomorrow but, for me, we can't say goodbye to January quickly enough."

McCall has already stressed that training this week will be dominated by working on ways to tighten up a leaky defence.

Changes are also likely at Boundary Park, with the new signings set to be involved and keeper Colin Doyle available again after his two-month absence.

"I'm looking forward to not only seeing the new players on the training ground but to get to know them and find out their strongest assets," said McCall.

"Having a full week before the next game definitely helps to make sure we do everything we can to turn this round."

Adam Chicksen, who came through his first game since October at the weekend, insists the players are firmly behind the manager.

The City defender said: "Of course it's tough for him – but he's passionate. He wants so much from us.

"We've got to give him as much as we can day in, day out and show we're as much behind him as he is behind us.

"We're massively behind him. He has so much enthusiasm and energy for us to do well and we've got to show the same to turn it round for him."