CONNOR Wood insists City cannot afford to offer any sympathy when they descend on troubled Macclesfield.

The Silkmen staff have not been paid on time since the start of the year while the club still face a winding-up petition.

They have also been charged by the EFL with misconduct over the wages issues and could face a points deduction.

READ MORE: Plymouth just a one-off, says Bowyer

But for now at least, Macc have just about managed to keep their heads above water and go into the rearranged City clash on the back of successive goalless draws.

Wood expects dangerous opposition – but admits Moss Rose must see a reaction from the visitors after last week’s poor showing at Plymouth.

The defender said: “They’ve obviously got stuff happening off the pitch. But sometimes that can spur you on a bit more and bring everyone closer.

“They will be a fighting team and we’ve got to match that – and make sure we better it.

“We all expect it to be tough but we’ve got to go out there with a winning mentality to make sure we play our game to the best of our ability.

“I’m sure if we do that, we should be able to get a positive result.

“It’s massive that we show a big reaction after last week and we’re able to put that result behind us.

“We’ve built up this week and go into the game with a positive mindset and a real hunger to put some points on the board.”

After the long haul back from the west country, it has been a long week to stew over the Home Park slip-up.

Wood agreed that Gary Bowyer was right to fume after such a limp return to league action from a three-week absence.

“When you’re on a run like we were and then have games called off, it can affect your momentum,” said Wood.

“With the two cups as well, it had been a while since we’d played in the league.

“But if we want to be successful, we’ve got to be able to bounce straight back from phases like that when your momentum is broken up.

“After a bad result, you want to put it right as soon as possible. But having the full week has given us a few more days to prepare and get our heads right for it.

“We’ll get our heads screwed on and back doing what we need to.

“The last league game we had prior to Saturday was against Exeter, another team who will be up there.

“We put in an impressive performance that day. Had we done the same at Plymouth, they would have been there for the taking.

“But for whatever reason, it wasn’t there and we’ve got to rectify that against Macclesfield.”

City have lost three on the bounce in three different competitions. Having dropped to seventh in League Two’s congested promotion picture, Wood knows they must deliver in Cheshire.

He added: “The table is tight at the moment and you can’t let a negative run of results get into your system.

“We’ve got to get back to playing how we can and the results will come that. Then hopefully we’ll stay up around the top part.

“Everyone was disappointed with the performance and the result against Plymouth but we’ve got to put that behind us if we want to achieve something this season.

“There are always going to be games like that over a long season and you’ve just got to try and minimise how many you have.”