GARY Bowyer does not expect any hangover from City’s “off day” at Plymouth.

The Bantams boss sat his players down to go through Saturday’s game after brandishing their first-half display the worst of the season.

But he is confident it was only a blip as they look to bounce straight back in the promotion race against Macclesfield this weekend.

Jake Reeves played one half in a behind-closed-doors game at Bolton yesterday to push his claims for his first league involvement at Moss Rose.

Bowyer believes the reaction with the Plymouth debrief shows the squad are determined to not let things slip again.

He said: “As we know through the season, they are an honest bunch and collectively and individually they put their hands up and admitted that Saturday wasn’t acceptable.

“They know that the first 45 minutes in particular was the worst of the season. It was nowhere near the standard that they have set.

“But we’re now 17 games in and that’s the first time we’ve had to say that.

“That also brings a bit of clarity. If it’s one in every 17 games, then it says that they’ve done all right which they have.

“We went through everything first as we do as staff and then spoke with the players.

“The preparations were fine, we travelled down the day before and it took seven hours but the spirit on the bus was very good.

“There were no excuses from them. It’s just sometimes in life, not just in football, we all have off days.

“That’s what we’ve put it down to, nothing more than that.

“They are geared up for a reaction and the application in training so far this week has been spot on again.”

With Callum Cooke part of a double switch at half-time, Bowyer may be considering changes in midfield.

Reeves did his chances no harm in the practice match at Bolton’s training ground and Bowyer was pleased with how he got on.

“Reevesy had another 45 minutes under his belt,” he added. “He came through it very well so that’s good news for us.

“He was the only one of those coming back from injury (to play), the rest were those who needed a game.

“Zeli (Ismail), Jermaine Anderson, Jackson Longridge, Tyler French and Paudie (O’Connor) were all involved. It was basically all those who had played against Rochdale and we just needed to keep them topped up.”