RYAN McGowan has faith in City’s band of brothers to hang tough as squad numbers continue to drop.

Sean Scannell’s three-game ban for his Sunderland red card is the latest blow for David Hopkin.

In the wake of Jim O’Brien’s hamstring injury, the Bantams head coach admitted he is down to just 16 senior players.

But McGowan took heart from the battling display in their 2-1 loss to the Black Cats – and believes they can maintain the progress under Hopkin despite the absence of another key figure.

The centre half said: “It’s frustrating because we seem to get one or two back and then Jim goes down with quite a serious injury and then Scans gets a red.

“We’re short in those areas. But the gaffer has said he’ll work with the group he’s got at the minute and we’ve got to make it as difficult as possible for the boys coming back in.

“He wants us really high tempo, on the front foot and playing in their half. I think most Bradford fans want to see their team play like that.

“He’s been highly successful in Scotland with that and I think you can sense around the club that everyone is a lot more confident in how we’re playing.

“We’re on a stricter game plan and spending a lot of time on the training pitch knowing exactly where we should be at certain moments.

“It probably needed that. It makes us look sharper and fitter because we’re not reacting off things.”

McGowan felt Saturday was a missed opportunity against the division’s promotion favourites. Former Bantams keeper Jon McLaughlin saved Jack Payne’s penalty after City had fallen behind again within minutes of Anthony O’Connor’s equaliser.

“We were bitterly disappointed not to get at least a draw out of it,” added McGowan.

“A penalty at 2-1, a man sent off, Jack Payne on the spot and you’re thinking goal and probably only one winner after that.

“Unfortunately, we missed it and couldn’t get that second goal before the end.

“It was the same when we scored. The place was rocking, probably the best it’s been all season, and then we conceded three or four minutes later – it was a kick in the teeth.

“But if we go back to after Wycombe at home and said that in six weeks’ time we’d be coming away disappointed to lose to Sunderland, everybody would have laughed at us.

“It shows you have far we’ve come in the last few weeks and I think everyone knows we’re on the right path of picking up results and being more competitive than we were at the start of the season.”

Hopkin confirmed Scannell will feature in the Checkatrade Trophy against Oldham tomorrow before his suspension kicks in.

He expects there to be a youthful look about the rest of the team.

The City boss said: “It’s already been spoken about. We need to see who is available.

“Sean will definitely play because he’s going to miss three weeks.

“These are things we can tinker with, but it could possibly be a very young team because I can’t afford any more injuries just now.

“We’ve got a massive game away to Accrington Stanley on Saturday.”