GREG Abbott insists City must follow Coventry’s lead tonight and push off-field politics to one side.

Saturday’s home loss to Rochdale, which dropped the Bantams to second from bottom, finished with loud chants aimed at absent chairman Edin Rahic.

More could follow at Valley Parade tonight when City look to end a run of three straight defeats when they face the Sky Blues.

Coventry fans remain locked in an ongoing battle with their owners but the club won promotion last season and are currently enjoying a three-game winning streak.

Abbott believes City must take that example and not get caught up in the cross-fire of the developing feud with the German hierarchy.

The assistant coach said: “It’s not easy but you probably have to look at Coventry as a great example.

“They were at war with their owners, Blackpool are the same, and they are two teams now who are pulling up trees in the division considering the circumstances they’ve had.

“It will change. It will get better at some point.

“I can’t give you an answer of when that is but you only have to look at those teams to see you have to find a way of getting through it.

“It’s only unity that will do that. People have got to stand up and be brave, have a good look at themselves and respond.

“The best way to do is by performances on the pitch. Everything else then will flourish off the back of that.

“It will get worse if results don’t pick up. But that’s common – it’s not nice but it happens in football and it happens at certain clubs.”

The criticism of Rahic, who is currently back home on a family holiday, and co-owner Stefan Rupp appears entrenched with City slumped in the relegation zone.

But Abbott is confident the team have it in them to lift the mood by reversing the downward trend.

“Fans will buy into everybody giving 100 per cent on and off the pitch,” he added. “That’s the football side of it.

“They will back us to the hilt if they can see there is full commitment from the staff and the players.

“It’s when they see it slightly waning, whether that’s through lack of confidence or lack of bravery, that’s when there are problems.

“We’ve got to find a way of getting out of it.”

City could be boosted by the return of Hope Akpan for his first appearance since David Hopkin took charge. The midfielder dislocated his shoulder in training on the head coach’s opening day.

Abbott said: “The manager has done things different this week and changed one or two things round. A few new ideas, a bit of freshness, he’s been honest and straight and the players have accepted everything.

“They are looking for guidance and help as well at the minute and are getting that in abundance from the management team. They’ve got the difficult job of playing under that slight bit of pressure.

“All we’ve said is give everything you’ve got with an absolute honesty about your performance. The fans will come with you.

“They will find a way of backing you. This is a decent crowd that have had some tough times in the past and they know how to deal with them.

“We’re appealing for them to look beyond it and give the players the support they need to get that win and change our fortunes.

“Sometimes it’s down to a little bit of luck and we need everything to go in our favour to find the performances and to start turning the club round.”