CITY must show they can pass the test by getting Port Vale straight out of the system.

That will be the challenge thrown down by Gary Bowyer as the Bantams prepare to face Macclesfield this weekend.

Bowyer admits the reaction will be key after his injury-hit side suffered their first defeat for six games to slip to fourth.

He said: “If we’d played badly and lost, then I’d be the first to put my hands up.

“The lads were pushing and pushing and, with how they’ve been so far, we’ve given them all the praise that they’ve richly deserved.

“We took a sucker punch and now we’ll measure how good a squad and group of players we are by how we react.

“It’s important we react positively and I’m sure they will.”

Bowyer has his fingers crossed that Dylan Connolly and Harry Pritchard make good progress in time for the Moss Rose trip. Both were sorely missed as City’s casualty list continues to escalate.

“We’ll see how Dylan goes and has reacted to one or two more training sessions,” added the Bantams chief.

“With Harry, it’s just a case of wait and see. It’s a really frustrating one.

“There’s no swelling anywhere that you can help reduce. It’s just one of those situations where his back has gone into spasm and you’ve got to wait for that to go.

“Harry was a loss because of the goal threat he provides and the quality from set-plays.

“That’s us right now. That’s the squad as we currently stand until we get one of the 10 injuries back.”

Bowyer came in for some criticism for not making any changes until after Will Atkinson scored the Port Vale winner in added time.

He then threw on Paudie O’Connor as an emergency centre forward, the defender going close to a late equaliser with a header over the bar.

Bowyer said: “We camped in their half but failed to capitalise. But they were all going well.

“Danny Devine was running forward and providing crosses and assists.

“It wasn’t something like we thought, ‘who’d you put Shay (McCartan) on for’ or ‘do we change the shape?’

“You saw at the end, the supporters clapped them off. They recognised the efforts and the way they went about it second half.

“The disappointing thing was the start of the game that was unlike us and the manner of the goals.”