Stuart McCall has promised to root out the faint-hearted as he battles to stop City’s rot.

McCall admitted “anxiety” was a factor in Saturday’s defeat at Lincoln as the worrying slump continued.

City have won only twice in 11 league games and could drop two places to 18th if results go against them tonight.

McCall, who has called the current position “desperate”, believes their predicament is affecting some of his players.

And he will not be afraid to pull out anyone who he feels lacks the stomach for the battle ahead.

He said: “There’s a natural anxiety in one or two of the players because of the run of results we’ve had of late.

“They lack a bit of confidence doing what we’ve asked of them.

“The more that you slip behind, the lower you get. But there is only one way out of that.

“It’s imperative that we win at Torquay next weekend and if that’s putting added pressure on the players then so be it.

“If you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen.

“We are paid to play football and I’m paid to manage the team. I’m well aware of the pressure and so are the players.

“If that’s too much for some of them, then I will play people who can take it.

“The bottom line is that we’ve got to go down there and do whatever it takes to get a win.”

McCall, who subbed skipper Zesh Rehman at half-time, was angry at the way City conceded their two goals to Lincoln. Both came from Matt Glennon’s clearances that were returned straight back, catching the defence out of position.

He added: “They were two goals that should have been avoided on so many different levels. That’s the frustration.

“If James (Hanson) had been playing, they probably wouldn’t have happened. But we discussed not kicking the ball down the centre halves’ throats because it was likely to come back again without his height up against them.

“And then you’ve got people challenging for balls they are never going to get.

“We’d gone through it on Friday and the way Lincoln like to play. We were aware of it and still fell in the trap.

“But that’s where one or two showed a degree of anxiety in the play.

“It’s just bad decision making and that’s borne through a lack of confidence.”