Ashley Ward today reassured worried fans: Give it a few weeks and you'll see the true Bradford City.

The Bantams are suffering a crisis of form and confidence on the back of seven straight losses - their most miserable stretch since 1978.

They are locked in a struggle to stay out of the bottom three and face crucial Christmas matches against fellow basement-dwellers Stoke and Grimsby.

With the constant financial worries, it is the toughest period yet for Nicky Law and his shell-shocked troops. But Ward refuses to acknowledge any talk of panic.

The injury-hit striker, who is unlikely to return against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, said: "We've still got half a season to go. There is plenty of time to get out of trouble.

"More than any club we can't afford to pick up injuries, and this season we've had more than most. We can't afford to carry people in our position on and off the field.

"I still think with our best 11 out there we are a good match for anybody. You saw that at the start of the season but when we picked up a few injuries we were struggling.

"We've got players coming back now like Peter Atherton and Jamie Lawrence but they need a few games under their belts after being out for so long. Get everyone fit and then you will see a real difference in our results."

Ward last appeared at Brighton on November 2 when he suffered knee and ankle injuries, and his comeback was delayed when he pulled a calf while doing a warm-down run before the recent Sheffield United game.

Ward, whose only goals were a double against Rotherham in August, said: "I wouldn't really want to play on Saturday but we might need everybody available with the situation we are in.

"With every bad result the heads tend to drop and the crowd becomes uneasy. That makes it even harder to turn things round - it is a vicious circle.

"It's not looking good at the moment but we cannot panic. I know we'll pull out of this."

l David Wetherall is likely to be out for another month - although it is not a recurrence of his old groin injury.

A scan revealed a twinge in his hamstring, which is likely to sideline him for three to four weeks.