CITY’S defending “left a lot to be desired” in today’s 3-0 loss at Barnsley, according to boss David Hopkin.

The Bantams’ hopes of building on a run of four wins in five games were dashed by a poor display at Oakwell in front of over 3,500 away fans.

Promotion-chasing Barnsley maintained their unbeaten home record with goals from Jacob Brown and Kieffer Moore in the first half, before Alex Mowatt added a late third following Adam Chicksen’s sending off.

But Hopkin felt his own side gave the Tykes too much of a helping hand.

He said: “The defending left a lot to be desired. It was down to basic errors.

“We started the game well for the first 20-25 minutes but then conceded a poor goal.

“Jack (Payne) didn’t go with the runner to stop the cross to get the ball to the back post. Then Adam Chicksen’s standing square on instead of opening his body and the boy’s got above him with the header.

“The second goal looks good play but it’s not, it’s a weak shot. Richard (O’Donnell) has got a hand to it but he’s got to do better.

“The game just petered out between that and the end when Adam got sent off and they scored a third goal. But every chance they had came through our mistakes.”

Paudie O’Connor made his debut in a back three but was subbed at half-time to bring on striker George Miller.

Hopkin played Ryan McGowan on the right and Paul Caddis in central midfield in a bid to keep things tight against a side who have only failed to score once at home this season.

He added: “The shape didn’t do any of this, changing the team didn’t do any of this – it’s basic errors.

“If you can’t defend your back post from a dinked cross or keep out a weak shot, that’s nothing to do with formations or how you’re going to play.”

Hopkin confirmed afterwards that City have been in contact with Bournemouth over striker Sam Surridge – an interest revealed last week by the Telegraph & Argus.

“We know we need to get players in,” he added. “We’re limited to where we are just now – you could see with the bench we had today.

“I’m disappointed for the fans who turned up today and the players are disappointed. But it shows how far we’ve come that we turned up here and thought we could get something.

“I just thought they nullified David Ball and Jack Payne and that stopped us playing."