Manager Paul Jewell has apologised to the Bradford City fans who watched their side lose 3-1 at relegation-threatened Tranmere Rovers.

The Bantams slipped to their 11th defeat on their travels at Prenton Park despite taking the lead with Eddie Youds' first goal of the season.

However a dreadful second half display saw City lose 3-1 and Jewell said: "We had 1,000 people who came over from Bradford and I apologise to them for that second half debacle.

"We are limited with injuries at the moment but I won't tolerate any more performances like that."

Asked if he believed his side felt they had nothing left to play for this season, the City boss added: "If anyone wants to ask me that I will argue the point with them.

"I have certainly got a lot to fight for and if the players think that then they can come and see me and they won't play again this season.

"But to be fair to them I don't think they think that way although it certainly looked like they might in that second half."

Youds was also bitterly disappointed to see City throw away their lead with such a poor second half performance.

He said: "I am angry at the moment. Every game we lose makes me like this. But the fact is we didn't go down fighting.

"Tranmere wanted it a little bit more than us. They are desperate for points but then so are we.

"They changed their shape and we fell apart. It is not good enough and we are bitterly disappointed."

City are now down to 13th in the table and Youds believes a victory over Manchester City next week is vitally important to repay the supporters.

"The manager has just given us a rollicking, which we thoroughly deserve. And we have now got to pick the pieces up against Manchester City.

"We have had a few injuries but we can't blame it on that. After an OK first half we crumbled. But we will bounce back next Saturday as we haven't become a bad side overnight.

"If anything we needed a kick up the backside to say the season isn't over yet just because we are lying in mid-table. We have got to realise that we must keep playing. We will work hard this week and put it right.

"We were at sixes and sevens in that second half. It is not acceptable to the management and they have relayed that to us."

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