LEE Angol reckons City’s free weekend can be a “blessing in disguise” after their non-stop November.

With no FA Cup involvement, the Bantams have the chance to catch their breath following a run of six away games in 22 days – including those two trips to Exeter.

Angol is gutted not be going to Cambridge tomorrow in the second round having fired City into the lead at St James Park in the replayed replay.

But he also believes that not having a weekend game can benefit the squad with the chance to recharge batteries ahead of their home double-header against Colchester and Sutton.

Angol said: “Maybe it is a blessing in disguise with no fixture now and what we needed as a team.

“We’d obviously wanted to get through but perhaps we need a little break from playing after the last month. Then we can hit the ground running next week.”

The striker, who netted his fourth goal of the season, is still finding his way back after missing three months with a recurrence of an old hamstring injury.

Derek Adams is being forced to hold him back and Angol can understand the caution with his history of long lay-offs.

But the pressure is on because of injuries to Andy Cook, Charles Vernam, Caolan Lavery and Abo Eisa.

Angol admitted: “It doesn’t help with all the injuries at the moment.

“It’s a sensitive one right now missing so many forward players and people are looking to me to do well.

“Saturday at Scunthorpe was my first 90 minutes in four months. I felt all right afterwards although naturally I was tired.

“The conditions were hard but it was a good test.

“I’m trying to get my minutes in so I can be match sharp but I’ve obviously got to be careful because of my history with injuries. I’ll just keep building it up.

“But we’re all going to stick together and keep working our way through this. I still do believe we’ll have a good season.”

City have not won since losing top scorer Cook to a hamstring problem in training. He has been scheduled to return from the middle of the month.

Angol feels their current struggles are self-inflicted.

“We do it to ourselves. When we draw or lose games, it’s often down to us because we’re not taking the chances. We’re beating ourselves.

“We had a good first half against Exeter, creating chances and we’re frustrated not to go through.

“But it’s been the same story for the last few weeks when we keep getting draws in the league.

“That’s why it’s not a good feeling right now but we’ll keep working hard and hopefully get that win next game.”

The pressure will be on City to record their first win since October 23 when they host 18th-placed Colchester on Wednesday before a debut Valley Parade visit from high-flying EFL new boys Sutton three days later.

“Sometimes I feel that when you’re on a run when you haven’t won for a long time it can break the team up,” said Angol. “But I still feel that we’re all working together.

“It’s not a good vibe obviously because we didn’t win at Exeter – and obviously we’ve been searching for that win for a long time.

“But we all do believe that it will come and once we get winning again, we can start a run.

“Next week is the perfect opportunity to get back-to-back wins. There’s no better way to get some wins on board than do it in front of your own fans.

“Then hopefully we push on and don’t look back and finish the year strong.”