DAVID Hopkin feels City are in the right frame of mind heading into this potential make-or-break stretch of the season.

The weekend trip to Plymouth kicks off a crucial run of games up to the end of the year which also sees the Bantams face Stuart McCall’s Scunthorpe and Rochdale – two sides they hope to drag into trouble.

With an FA Cup replay against Peterborough at Valley Parade next week, it is a pivotal spell in their bid to salvage the campaign.

But Hopkin believes they head into it in good spirits following the two-goal fight back at the Posh.

He said: “We know it’s going to be tough. We have a run of games now against teams round about us.

“Hopefully we can pick up points and try and get away from where we are.

“I think confidence-wise, we’ve been playing well and we’ve got players coming back now.

“Players have got to take great heart and confidence. Even the two poor results we’ve had, the two 4-0 defeats, have been when we’ve been down to the bare bones with defenders.

“Those games have been difficult because we’ve not managed to put a back four together.”

Hopkin can see his side’s staying power improving as he looks to make an impact on the squad he took over – a job boosted by the arrival of new number two Anton McElhone.

The Bantams boss added: “Players know they can keep going and just have to make sure we’re not giving ourselves a mountain to climb every week.

“Both goals on Saturday were mistakes. One came from a free-kick again and we were done on the counter-attack and the second we should have done better with.

“But I’ve been delighted with their effort and application and the mindset is changing at the club.

“We’ve got a wee bit of belief and desire now and want to keep going for the 90 minutes. That will stand us in good stead.

“All the squad’s going to be used now with the extra game in the FA Cup.

“Players need to make sure we’re all focused and keep going.

“The next five or six games could go a long way to seeing where we’re going to end up in the league.”

A win at Home Park would lift City above Plymouth and off the foot of League One for the first time since October 23.

Hopkin said: “We know we can change the table and that’s what we have to do.”