DEREK Adams has delivered a stark warning to City’s fringe players: My eyes don’t lie.

The Bantams boss was unhappy with his side’s display against Manchester United under-21s on Tuesday after making wholesale changes.

He mixed it up to give others in the squad some game-time – and made it clear that the 3-0 home defeat did none of them any favours.

Adams said: “Everyone has had an opportunity at the football club.

“I’ve come in and assessed it. I know what we’ve got to do to go forward and nobody can have any complaints.

“People are clamouring to be given opportunities and they’ve had that. They can’t say to me that they haven’t had any game time.

“I’ve done that. I’ve given every single person at this football club an opportunity. I’ve seen them – the players that were here last year and the ones who have come in.

“We only had three new players in the team, so that shows you how much we’ve got to change going forward.”

Adams has a problem up front with Caolan Lavery and Theo Robinson both big doubts for Saturday’s trip to Crawley. He reluctantly brought on Andy Cook for the final quarter of the Papa John’s Trophy game.

Charles Vernam, a half-time substitute, also appeared to be holding his leg at the end.

Kian Scales, Reece Staunton and Jorge Sikora - who all remain available for loan to National League clubs - made their first outings of the season.

Sam Hornby played in goal but has now conceded six goals in his two Papa John's Trophy appearances. 

Levi Sutton and Yann Songo'o also featured in midfield after being out the picture.

But Adams suggested there is still plenty of work to be done to provide more strength in depth.

“We always knew the situation,” he added. “We’ve got to get through this period.

“We’ve got a good nucleus of a squad. I think the players have shown that already in the league.

“I know what we’ve got to do going forward. My eyes don’t lie.

“I see on the training field how things go. Other people don’t get to see what I do and that’s why I’ve been picking the teams that I have.

“On the training field, these are the players that I feel have done well.”