DAVID Hopkin has a Christmas wish to see City off the foot of League One.

Performances have been on the up and the Bantams boss wants to see that improvement rewarded in the table.

City trail second-from-bottom Wimbledon on goal difference on 15 points – two behind Plymouth Argyle and Bristol Rovers, who sacked manager Darrell Clarke yesterday.

Hopkin’s side go into back-to-back home games before Christmas against Walsall tomorrow and then Stuart McCall’s Scunthorpe United.

And he hopes City can take advantage by using them as a springboard to propel themselves away from the basement spot.

Hopkin said: “It would be a nice boost. If you’re going to get out of the relegation (zone) then it’s got to come at some stage.

“We’ve got two games coming up now at home. We’ve been on the road for the last four or five weeks and it’s been difficult but we’ve managed to get some good results.

“Psychologically, if we can get off the bottom of the table before the end of the month it would be fantastic for us.”

Rovers’ decision to dismiss Clarke, who had taken them up from the Conference with two promotions, shows the high stakes in the bottom four as the season heads towards the halfway point.

Hopkin added: “We all know the industry we are in. But I’m a great believer that people are seeing change.

“We’re progressing and getting a better team, a fitter team and one that’s harder to play against.

“It’s unfortunate that Darrell has lost his job. He’s been there five years and been fantastic for them.

“But football’s a cruel game. One minute you’re a hero and the next when you’ve lost two or three games it changes.

“We just need to make sure we keep going as a group. That’s the players, the staff and the fans and if we do that, there’s only way this club is going to go.

“Every game is a big one but now we’re at a stage at Valley Parade where everyone has got a bit of liveliness about them. There’s a buzz about the city.

“There are a lot of people coming back which we have to use to our advantage.

“We all go forward together and if we do that then I’m sure we’ll get away from where we are in the league.”

Walsall knocked out Sunderland in the FA Cup on Tuesday and Hopkin expects the Saddlers to pose a tough challenge.

But it is one he is confident that City can meet if they maintain the attacking prowess that has produced seven goals in the last two games.

“They don’t concede many goals and had a fantastic result at Sunderland during the week,” he added.

“We know they are going to be organised and hard to break down. But we need to play at the same intensity we have been and hopefully we can cause Walsall problems.”

George Miller has scored three in City’s goal rush since returning to the starting line-up. Hopkin can see an extra edge to the young striker’s performances.

He added: “We had a chat and I told him that he had to do it in the team what he’s been doing in training.

“He got his chance at Plymouth and I thought he was excellent. He could have had a hat-trick.

“The other night he played against two experienced and quick defenders and gave them a torrid time. His movement behind them, his running off the ball and his hard work got them.”

Hopkin also confirmed that injury-jinxed Alex Jones is “on the mend” and has been training for 10 days. Jake Reeves has been able to do some running and fitness work but remains on the casualty list.