Lee Bullock has challenged City to win their “mini-league” to prove they are still worth a shot at the play-offs.

City face promotion rivals Dagenham on Saturday before finishing off with Rotherham at Valley Parade and a potentially critical final-day trip to seventh-placed Chesterfield.

The Bantams, without a victory in eight games, realistically need to win at least twice in the five-club battle for the final play-off spot.

Midfielder Bullock said: “If we’re going to get in the play-offs, these next three games are a mini-league against decent teams.

“If we can take the pressure and get the wins, it will build confidence. If we can’t, then we don’t deserve to be in there; it’s as simple as that.

“We want to get to Wembley. We want to get promoted. We want a day out that we can remember for the rest of our lives. That should be a massive incentive.”

Bullock’s equaliser rescued a point against Lincoln on Monday but, with teams around them also tripping up, it was another opportunity wasted to make up vital ground.

“The other sides must be just as gutted and feeling the pressure the same as us,” said Bullock.

“The atmosphere changed after we scored and it was a different game. Thorney (Peter Thorne) went through and maybe if he hadn’t played Friday, he would have banged that in.

“But at least we were making the chances and not hanging on at the other end.

“We are having a rough time but it’s not like other teams are capitalising. You come in down after the game and then see the other results and it’s strange.

“There’s a lot of pressure now and it’s affecting everybody. You don’t want to be that man who makes the mistake that can wreck the dream of promotion.

“It is difficult but you are out there for a reason. You’ve got to get the ball, get it into the box and be a man.”

City have the worst current form in the whole of League Two – play-off dark horses Morecambe have picked up 12 points on them over the past eight games and second-placed Exeter 11.

But Bullock is hoping the slump can still be halted with a win in Essex.

He said: “It might be a case of trying to do what teams do when they come to us – keep it tight and try to nick a goal on the break and frustrate the home fans.

“I don’t think anyone will be backing down from the challenge. It might look ugly at times but we’ve got to get the ball up there in and around the box and nick the three points.

“We’ve got to do whatever it takes to get that ball across the line. We’ll take any goal at the minute.”