Callum Cooke believes the Bantams are clear on what is expected of them - ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Salford City.
The Bantams welcome Gary Bowyer’s Ammies to the Utilita Energy Stadium on the back of four-straight defeats, the latest coming away to Port Vale on Saturday.
Cooke - who played his first 90 minutes in almost two months as Vale Park - insists the air was cleared after the weekend’s clash, and is expecting City to be better.
He said: “I feel like the areas have been cleared up ahead of tomorrow’s game - from Saturday and how we performed.
“Sometimes, you need open and honest chats like that, and things need to be said at the right times, which is what we did after Saturday's performance.
“We just need to go back to basics, because we have shown we are good players and are a good team.
“We went on a really good run not so long ago and know what we need to do to get back to that level.
“We started very well on Saturday but really dipped off, so the open and honest chats have definitely helped and that will hopefully show, going forward.”
The midfielder also admitted a desire to respond to criticism from Mark Trueman that his side’s performance lacked fight and aggression in Stoke-on-Trent.
Cooke said such comments do hurt players, but it is up to them to react in the right way.
The 24-year-old added: “Hard work has to be a given, and on Saturday we did not work hard enough or do enough to win.
“For the gaffer to question our attitude and fight does hurt, but we know it should not get to the point of that being an argument.
“With everything in place, you should not have to be questioned, which was how things were when we went on our run.
“We know what we have to do to get back to that level and are ready to fight and be difficult to play against - after a disappointing few weeks.”