SIMON Grayson wants to see City “stick two fingers up” at him and the critics with a proper display against Shrewsbury tonight.

Grayson accused several players of “lacking the bottle” for the challenge of turning round the club’s shocking run following the 5-0 drubbing at Blackpool.

He held a clear-the-air meeting at training on Monday and is demanding the right reaction when they step out at Valley Parade in the TV spotlight to face the third-placed Shrews.

Grayson said: “If you’ve got anything about you, the next thing you want to do when you’ve suffered humiliation is to prove people wrong.

“I would love it if one or two players turned to me after the game and stuck two fingers up and say ‘I have got the bottle to be part of this club.

“That’s what I want them to do. Nothing would give me greater satisfaction because I did question that with a few of them on Saturday.”

Owners Edin Rahic and Stefan Rupp have come in for growing criticism as City continue to slip down the table. They kick off tonight in the bottom half of League One for the first time since 2015 but do have games in hand.

Chairman Rahic is still in Germany but Grayson has remained in regular contact.

He added: “I spoke to Edin on Saturday and Sunday and he’s just as frustrated.

“There’s nobody connected with Bradford City at this moment who is happy with what’s happening, from the owners to the management staff, the supporters, the players, the cleaners and tea ladies.

“I don’t think anyone could believe the Blackpool score. But anything can happen in football as we’ve seen many times – I don’t think anyone expected Roma to turn over Barcelona the other night.

“You’ve got to stick together, roll your sleeves up and come through the other side through grit and determination and character.”

Shrewsbury’s visit is the first of five home games between now and May 1. City faced a barrage of abuse from the fans at the weekend and Grayson knows they must win over the crowd again.

“If they’ve got anything about them, the players certainly will do whatever’s required,” he said.

“I wouldn’t want to be on that pitch suffering criticism like they did on Saturday and have since then.

“Any footballer has to start with the bare minimum requirements of working hard and showing the right application. It’s about having the desire.

“The two home games we’ve had since I’ve been at the club have produced two gritty performances.

“We have to take those positives into tonight and that has to be done from the first whistle until the last tonight.

“If you don’t match Shrewsbury, they’ll run all over the top of you because that’s how they’ve got their success this year.

“All the things I’ve spoken about were answered by the players in our meeting. But it’s come down to them putting words into actions.

“There’s no better game to do that than playing live on the telly against a team pushing for promotion.”

Romain Vincelot is struggling with a knee injury and others have been unable to train. Grayson has already promised changes with several youngsters set to feature.

“Whatever age and however many games you’ve got under your belt, go out and do yourselves justice.

“We have to set the bar a little bit higher of what we want from the players.”