CITY hope a new voice can bring a much-needed change of fortune in their first game without Stuart McCall tonight.

Mark Trueman will be in the dug-out at Crawley with fellow academy coach Conor Sellars as the lowly Bantams bid to halt a six-game losing streak.

The race to replace McCall is hotting up – with Sol Campbell the latest name to be made favourite by the bookmakers.

City know they must win over the fans as much as the next manager after McCall's sacking.

Trueman said: “Whoever the new manager is going to be, they’ve got to perform. For some players, a new voice might help.

“A couple of them could have been refreshed to hear something different.

“I don’t think I’ll be exactly the same as the gaffer. It was new for the players and I think they enjoyed the training session yesterday and took everything on board.

“There is a lot of frustration out there and it’s about performances. The players have got to perform as a team and individually.

“They need to show that commitment and desire and I’m sure they will tonight.”

With second-bottom Stevenage not playing because of a positive COVID-19 test, this is City’s game in hand on the team beneath them in the relegation zone on goal difference.

Bryce Hosannah is having a scan on his hamstring after being forced off before half-time in the weekend defeat at Oldham.

Tonight also comes too soon for Billy Clarke and Gareth Evans. Both should be available for the Cambridge game on Saturday – when some fans could be allowed back into Valley Parade if the government restrictions on Bradford are eased.

They will play in front of a reduced home crowd at Crawley, who are currently in tier two. City’s only previous game with spectators was one of the test events at Forest Green in September.

Striker Lee Novak admitted: “It doesn’t matter if we play rubbish and nick a 1-0. All that matters tonight is winning.

“Once we get one, the confidence will grow and we’ll go and get another. Maybe it will take a goal going in off someone’s backside to change it.”

Trueman believes the quick fixture turnaround has prevented the players from moping about McCall’s departure. He wants to see heads up at the Broadfield Stadium.

“The manager change is a big thing but, in terms of preparation, it is exactly the same because they knew this game was coming up.

“They were obviously disappointed to hear the news. But they’ve got a job to do and that’s to perform.

“The mental side is so important and making sure they are confident going into the game and know their roles both in and out of possession.

“Ultimately that’s my job and what I’m trying to achieve – to prepare them the best I can do.

“We’re not going there to sit back. We want to be competitive and try to get a result.

“We created a lot of chances in the game on Saturday and I’m sure we will again. It’s important we’ve got our structure right and we concentrate for what Crawley throw at us.

“There’s a lot of quality in this club. It’s just finding that balance of being positive but also making sure we cut out any errors.”