Anthony O'Connor insists the Bantams must "bounce back" from Monday evening's defeat to Harrogate Town - ahead of tomorrow's trip to Mansfield Town.
The defender felt City's loss to their North Yorkshire neighbours provided a wake-up call for Stuart McCall's men.
And, while conceding each Sky Bet League Two encounter is a challenge, O'Connor is determined to help ensure City repsond in the right way - at the One Call Stadium.
He stated: "Every game is tough in this league and there are no guarantees, but you have to be prepared to put in maximum effort.
"Make no bones about it, we were second best on Monday night and did not deserve anything from the game, although it was not necessarily down to a lack of effort.
"We are aware of what happened, we have discussed it and we will hopefully put it right on Saturday.
"The gaffer has brought in players who want to play for the club and want to work for each other and has recognised that the players who are here want to do so.
"We are a tight-knit group and have a good bunch, therefore we are desperate to make sure Monday was just a blip.
"It is a shame that it needed a bit of a slap in the face and a wake up call to tell us that no game is easy.
"But we have to put it to bed and make sure we are better the next time we take to the pitch. It is important now that we bounce back on Saturday.”
The Irishman also admitted there was even more of an incentive to show a reaction on Saturday, given how this fixture ended last season.
O'Connor carries bad memories from the One Call Stadium after a 3-0 defeat in January, and is desperate to put that right this time around.
He added: "The game did not go too well last year so there is even more incentive for us to redeem ourselves.
"It has come earlier than we had wanted, but there comes a point in the season when you lose a game and it gives you a bit of a wake up call.
"We know we cannot get too comfortable or rest on our laurels.
"It will be a tough game, as it was last season. We beat them at home and then got beaten badly away.
"The lads who were here last season will have it fresh in their memory and want to do better, because it was a day where we got played off the park and rolled over.
"Therefore, we need to be on it to make sure it does not happen again.
"We must keep going and keep that eagerness to learn and improve, because I still think there is a lot to come from us."
The game will be available to stream LIVE - for just £10 - with an iFollow video match pass. CLICK HERE to ensure you do not miss a minute of the action.