DAVID Hopkin hopes City’s fed-up fans will ease off on criticising the youngsters as the team’s troubles go on.

Second-from-bottom City face another critical home game against Coventry tomorrow night on the back of a third straight loss.

Angry supporters once again chanted against absent chairman Edin Rahic as the Bantams spiralled to a 2-0 Valley Parade defeat against Rochdale.

City were guilty of missing several scoring chances – with George Miller receiving some flak after blowing the best of them shortly before the visitors’ second goal.

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Rochdale boss Keith Hill reckoned the anger in the stands played into his own side’s hands.

After 10 defeats in their 14 league games, Hopkin can understand the reaction from the supporters.

But he fears the criticism could get to the more inexperienced players.

Hopkin said: “I think fans pay their money to come along and are entitled to their say.

“But they’ve got to remember there are a lot of young players here and they will find it difficult to cope with it.

“Every time there is a negative comment towards them you’ll start to see some of the younger ones maybe taking a wee step back.

“The fans have been magnificent since I’ve come in. But I can see the frustration because obviously results are not going the way they hoped they would.

“Of course, the fans are frustrated and they’ve every right to be.

“If you’re not winning the football matches, everybody is frustrated – I’m as frustrated as anybody else.

“At this moment in time, every mistake we make we’re getting punished for.”

Lewis O’Brien was at fault in the build-up to both of Rochdale’s late penalties but Hopkin, who lost right back Kelvin Mellor with a broken toe, felt the teenager had been City’s brightest player.

“He’s a young man who gives me everything,” added the head coach.

“He was the best player on the park for me because of his age.

“He’s 19 and made a couple of mistakes. He’s down but he’s been fantastic and will learn from this.

“It’s up to me to give everyone a lift for another difficult game against Coventry.

“Everybody gets beaten in football and it’s about how you react.

“That’s the biggest thing and we’ve got to push on because we’ve got another opportunity quite quickly.”

Opposite number Hill insists City have enough about them to pull out of trouble. But he noticed the edgy mood in the crowd getting to the home players.

Hill said: “There is a bit of a negative atmosphere in the stadium which can help you.

“No matter what axe the supporters have to grind, they shouldn’t be grinding it on their own team.

“The psychology of supporters sometimes drives me crazy. They should be supporting that team because that’s a good team in the making.

“There’s probably a bit of confidence lacking and when they get exposed to a vociferous crowd who’s against them a little bit or waiting for them to start losing a game, then it does help the opponent.”

Hopkin has now lost six of his eight games in charge since succeeding Michael Collins at the start of last month.

He said: “We’re getting fitter and stronger, we’re organised and we’re creating chances now.

“But if you make mistakes then it doesn’t matter who you are, what kind of coach or players. If you keep giving teams opportunities then it does become difficult.

“Every team I’ve had has always been able to see a game out and keep a clean sheet. But we can’t do that at the moment.”