Crawley v Bradford City – Positive note needs to be struck by Bantams after Stuart McCall sacking

The Bantams travel to Crawley for their first match since the sacking of club legend Stuart McCall following six straight defeats.

Novak, who also worked with McCall at Scunthorpe United, missed all but the last of those games with a torn calf.

“It’s probably been the worst six or seven weeks of my career seeing results not going our way and there’s nothing I can do to help,” he admitted.

“We’ve got to take responsibility for the manager losing his job. As players we haven’t done enough but we have to be positive because we’ve got a big game.”

Academy coaches Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars take the team tonight – although Trueman says he has no ambitions to be the permanent manager – and Novak knows the senior players need to step up and help. More than anything, they just need three points.

“We have to win at all costs,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if we play the worst we’ve played all season but we nick a 1-0. Once we get one the confidence will grow and by the time we know it, we could be three or four wins in.”

Leeds United loanee Bryce Hosannah is awaiting the result of a scan on an unspecified problem. He has already missed matches with a hamstring strain. Billy Clarke and Gareth Evans are still out but Novak has no concerns about playing twice in four days.

“I felt fine during the game and in the days after,” he said. “It’s probably the best I’ve felt after a game in a long time. I hope I am playing every game now.”

Trueman has had a hectic time since McCall was sacked on Sunday, but feels he knows the players he is working with.

“It was a surprise,” he admitted. “But I’ve been to the games after the youth team games and a lot of the players have been here a season or two, so I know them.”

City are inviting applications to succeed McCall. Ex-Shrewsbury Town manager Paul Hurst is the early favourite ahead of the likes of Phil Parkinson, Paul Heckingbottom and Danny Cowley.

Last six games: Crawley WDDWLL; Bradford City LLLLLL

Referee: S Purkiss (London)

Last time: Crawley 2 Bradford City 1, January 11, 2020, League Two.

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