Nicky Law refused to hammer his City side after their second loss to whipping boys Stockport because he didn't want to risk shattering their paper-thin confidence.

The Bantams were dragged back into the relegation picture by a shocking 1-0 defeat at Edgeley Park last night as the First Division's doomed basement boys claimed an unlikely double.

It was Stockport's first victory for four months and City's second loss to relegation strugglers in four days following Saturday's home slump against Sheffield Wednesday.

But Law - who had questioned the commitment of some of his squad before the game - bit his tongue afterwards and declined to read the riot act to his sinking side.

He said: "I could have started kicking skips and throwing cups and knocking things all over the place but who would have benefited? They aren't going to respond to that.

"Instead I just had a chat with the lads for 15-20 minutes to find out what it is that's wrong, because I don't know. It's almost as if they have no confidence at all.

"They are big names but they are still human beings and they are low on confidence. We can't put a finger on what it is but we can't keep performing like that.

"It was always on the cards and as I've said before, this is far from over. We're far from safe at the moment and if we continue to play like that then we're in trouble."

Apart from Walsall's surprise win over Burnley, other results down the bottom fortunately went City's way. But with all-conquering Manchester City on the way for Friday's TV game at Valley Parade, Law has to lift chins off the floor quickly.

"God help them if they perform like that against City," he admitted. "Everyone will be running round trying to turn off all the tellies in Bradford - it just won't be a contest.

"I can't knock the effort because I thought they had a go as much as they could with the confidence they've got. But the quality wasn't there, you've got to take the bull by the horns and make things happen and we're not doing that at the moment."

Midfielder Gary Locke could miss the final nine games after tearing ankle ligaments. The club may now decide to push forward the hernia operation he was putting off until the summer.

Law added: "With the injuries we've got it's a frail squad and with two already in, we can't do any more on the loan front. This is all we've got and you can't destroy any confidence they've got left.

"I need these lads on Friday to respond and be positive. They've got to be big and strong and stand up and be counted, it's no good hiding."