GARY Bowyer stressed that City cannot keep repeating the same mistakes as they face being cut even further adrift from League One safety.

The Bantams could find themselves up to nine points from fifth bottom tonight when fellow strugglers Rochdale and Wycombe have played their games in hand.

Time is fast running out for the division’s basement side after five successive defeats.

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City were punished again at the weekend when Doncaster scored from their only shot on target after breaking from a home attack.

It is a pattern that Bowyer admits his side should be good enough to stamp out.

He said: “We turned over possession cheaply and then it was probably the one time we weren’t bright at the back and it’s cost us.

“You have to hold your hands up to it if someone puts one in the top corner. But from our point of view, it was certainly a goal that was preventable.

“That seems to have been the case quite a few times and obviously it needs addressing.”

Bowyer had again made changes in the back four, recalling Nathaniel Knight-Percival and Adam Chicksen who had been dropped the previous week at Charlton.

Former skipper Anthony O’Connor missed his first game since December as the City boss, who joined the club too late for the mid-season transfer window, continues to review his options.

He added: “I always knew coming in that would be the case in regard to the window. "However, the players we have should still be able to deal with the manner of the goal that we conceded on Saturday.

“It takes some getting over because we were in a position where we were camped in their half for long periods.

“The reports coming out of Doncaster suggest they knew they didn’t play particularly well but still won the game.

“That’s what you need sometimes when you want to be successful, which obviously they are with the season that they’re having.

“If you’d offer me the scenario Doncaster found themselves in on Saturday where the other team were better than them, yet they won, we’d take that for the next five games.

“But obviously long term, you want to be doing both – winning games and winning them in a certain style.”

Bowyer believes Paudie O’Connor will continue to improve the more he plays and is also eyeing a longer run-out for Sean Scannell at Bristol Rovers after the winger’s first appearance for six months.

Bowyer said: “Sean coming back in was great for us.

“He showed flashes of what he is capable of and what we’ve sadly missed here. He’s probably the only player in the squad with the pace and the power that’s needed.

“The plan was always going to be 20 minutes for him.

“It’s a difficult one because we’ve still got to look after him after the length of time he’s been out. But at the same time, we’re in this situation where we need to get him on the pitch.

“We’re looking for him to play longer this weekend, for sure, but that will be based on the work he’s done this week.

“You saw the lift he gave everybody, not just the players and staff but the supporters as well because he has the ability to go past people.

“He came on and set up a great chance at the death and it’s something we want to see more from him.”