RICHARD O’Donnell suffered City’s frustration as much as anybody as referee Nick Kinseley brought the second-half onslaught to an end.

The Bantams had been battered both physically and meteorologically at Cambridge – and ultimately all for nothing.

The keeper was in the eye of the storm at the Abbey Stadium as the extreme elements and the wind-assisted home side rained down on his goal.

Another away defeat in Stuart McCall’s first road trip; City’s poor run on their travels goes on.

But this time they were spared the scorn from those who had made the long trip with them.

The reaction from the 801-strong claret and amber army was very different from the venomous air of the final away games under Gary Bowyer.

A change of manager has altered the vibe among City fans, even in the bitterness of conceding two late goals to turn the result on its head.

O’Donnell insists it is down to the team to maintain that more positive feel generated by McCall’s recent return.

“It’s up to us to keep performing to get people back,” he said. “The pressure is on us to do that.

“It’s the same all over the country. I had a mate of mine text me after going to watch Sheffield Wednesday away at Luton the other week.

“He was saying that he’s never going to go back again because they were awful.

“That’s how it is in football. Performances get people back in the stadium.

“Obviously the gaffer coming back gave everyone a boost as well and hopefully that can continue.”

As the nearest player to the fans, O’Donnell heard the poisonous chants louder than most in what proved to be Bowyer’s final game in charge at Oldham.

Fast forward a week to the launch of McCall’s third spell in the Valley Parade hot-seat and the players were greeted by the biggest crowd of the season.

O’Donnell added: “I must admit when I walked out against Grimsby, I had a little smile on my face.

“It reminded me of the Liverpool game in pre-season when you walk out in front of a packed Kop. It’s brilliant to see.

“Yet again, it was nice to get more people back in the stands than we normally have.

“Obviously Grimsby brought a good following as well and that made it a great atmosphere on the day. We want to keep that going.

“We’re adapting as quickly as we possibly can to what the gaffer wants.

“Everyone has been through times like this when you change managers and they want to play different ways.

“A lot has been said about our pitch and it’s difficult to play beautiful football on it at the minute. But that’s just how it is.”

O’Donnell’s hamstring injury at Crawley put paid to his ever-present league run last month.

Bowyer hastily brought in Luke McGee from Portsmouth for the next four games before the keeper was able to return.

The presence of McGee, and the sizeable chunk of his wages that City are currently paying, offers genuine competition for the number one shirt.

With Sam Hornby currently on loan at Fylde and George Sykes-Kenworthy still learning his trade, O’Donnell has probably not had that up to now.

But he stressed that he never takes the starting position for granted.

“Luke’s a good lad and a good goalkeeper,” said O’Donnell. “But whether it’s Luke there or George or Sam, I’ll treat it exactly the same.

“I’m not one to slack off my standards whoever’s behind me.

“I just wanted to get back fit as quickly as I could and massive credit for that goes to Chris (Royston) and the medical staff. They got me back a lot earlier than most people expected.

“But my mindset has not changed throughout that. Luke has done well when he came in, but it could have been George, Sam or whoever.”

Being sidelined through injury, particularly one that was caused in such innocuous circumstances, was a new experience that O’Donnell is not keen to repeat.

“It came out of nothing. I was just trying to stop the ball going out of play when their lad kicked it away and I just felt a twinge.

“It wasn’t nice. I don’t like missing any games and I’m the worst watcher ever.

“It was horrible sitting in the stand watching, I don’t like it. But I was there supporting the boys and then luckily I was able to get back in the team.

“But Luke will be waiting patiently for his turn and that’s just how it is.

“We have competition all across the pitch. You look at the size of our squad and it’s big.”