City face tonight's Valley Parade crunch with Blackpool with the warning: There is nowhere to hide.

Colin Todd is demanding that his troops clamber straight back off the floor after the 4-1 thumping by Oldham.

Saturday's loss - City's sixth at home - dragged them back into the frantic battle for League One survival.

Blackpool are only a point behind after a 1-0 win over Port Vale stretched their unbeaten run to four games.

City are still four points clear of the drop zone but the picture will change again tonight with Walsall up against Yeovil and Gillingham, who currently sit in the last relegation spot, also in action.

Todd said: "It's a dogfight and whatever side I put out there has to show real battling qualities. It's a game when the brave ones will shine.

"I have told the players that there is no hiding place. They need to be brave enough and man enough to go out and do their jobs properly.

"It's no use talking about what went on Saturday. That's gone now and it's very important that we pick ourselves up again."

Steve Claridge will not be in the squad after being told he can go out on loan.

The veteran striker, hauled off before half-time on Saturday, is wanted by a club in the south - thought to be League Two strugglers Oxford. Any deal must go through by Thursday's emergency loans deadline.

Todd said: "Steve came to see me to say that someone was trying to take him on loan. We'll allow him to do that but if it doesn't happen then he is still our player for the rest of the season."

Claridge, who made his debut at Blackpool in August, has scored five times for the Bantams but has not managed to nail down a regular role. Todd substituted him early against Oldham along with Owen Morrison, who is unlikely to feature tonight.

The absence of Claridge will mean another chance up front for Danny Cadamarteri alongside on-loan Aaron Wilbraham, who was one of the few bright spots on Saturday and headed his first City goal.

Todd said: "There's a lad who has come from the bottom of the table and knows what it is like down there. But you can guarantee the likes of MK Dons are battling for their lives and we need to show that same sort of fight.

"Blackpool will come and have a go at us tonight and we have to match that and be above it. I expect the players to respond with a real determination.

"A lot of people are going to be waiting for us to slip up. The pressure is on the players but they have brought that on themselves."