Stuart McCall has told City: The next four games will make or break our season.

Starting at Lincoln on Saturday, the Bantams face three sides below them and the return clash with Bury, who they ran close in midweek.

The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places

Stuart McCall

The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places

Stuart McCall

The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places

Stuart McCall

The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places

Stuart McCall

The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places

Stuart McCall

The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places

Stuart McCall

The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places

Stuart McCall

The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places

Stuart McCall

The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places

Stuart McCall

The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places

Stuart McCall

The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places

Stuart McCall

The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places

Stuart McCall

The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places

Stuart McCall

The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places

Stuart McCall

The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places

Stuart McCall

The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places

Stuart McCall

The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places

Stuart McCall

The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places

Stuart McCall

The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places

Stuart McCall

And McCall insists it is the perfect opportunity to stop the rot.

The City boss has thrown down the gauntlet by demanding at least three wins to breathe much-needed life into their drifting hopes of a play-off push.

He said: “We’re in a position where we don’t want to be. The only way to get out of that is by winning games.

“If we’re looking at getting anywhere near the fringes of the play-offs, we’ve got to do it in these next few games.

“I normally look no further than the next one but these four are an opportunity to get going again.

“I’m not looking at the teams below us as easy fodder, certainly not. You saw that the other night with Darlington winning at Rotherham.

“But they are below us in the table for a reason. The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places.”

Omar Daley is likely to get his first start for 11 months after his half-hour appearance from the bench at Gigg Lane. Steve Williams is back from suspension and McCall is hopeful that at least one of injured duo Lee Bullock and James Hanson will be fit.

Having lost five of their last seven games, City’s form does not suggest an immediate revival but McCall points to the way they have been playing, particularly at Gigg Lane.

McCall added: “Watching the Bury game again, we’ve performed well enough to take something but we haven’t done that, like numerous occasions this season.

“The bottom line is that the players and me personally will get judged on results. And the results aren’t good enough.

“There’s certainly not a lack of spirit there or belief. It’s about taking the chances that come along.

“The big positive is that nobody at the club thinks it’s a foregone conclusion that we won’t get there. But we’ve got to start doing it now and take the bull by the horns.

“The fans have given great support and nobody is more appreciative than the players. We’ve talked about it long enough and now it’s down to us as a group to get out on that pitch and do it.

“The aim in the next 360 minutes of football is to give everything we’ve got. If we can produce nine or ten points we’re back on the edges of the play-offs, and that’s all I’ve asked.”

Lincoln, who won 2-0 at Valley Parade in August, are the only side in the bottom six that City have not beaten.

Back-to-back wins have eased the Imps clear of the relegation zone as new boss Chris Sutton looks to youth.

Sutton, who succeeded Peter Jackson, has used his contacts to bring in a host of untried faces from Fulham and Aston Villa. The average age of the side that hung on to beat Barnet last week was just over 21.

Midfielder Stefan Oakes is back in the squad after a hamstring strain.

  • City’s home game against Notts County will now be played on Tuesday, March 23.