BRIDPORT welcome high-flying Bradford Town to St Mary’s Field tonight (7.45pm) seeking to bounce back from Easter Monday’s dismal performance against Gillingham Town.

The Bees pressed the self-destruct button before crashing to a 2-0 defeat at Harding’s Lane, which leaves their aspirations of a top-half berth dangling by a thread.

Boss Ian Hutchinson, who lambasted his charges’ “passionless” second-half display in his post-match appraisal, has demanded they put it right.

He said: “It just wasn’t good enough, especially the second half which was so lacklustre.

“I don’t mind them playing badly as long as the commitment is there and apart from Ryan Hayter, Darren Lock and Jamie McClements it wasn’t.

“I expect a reaction against Bradford but it’s up to the players to do the hard work and turn the situation around.”

Bridport’s task has been made harder by the unavailability of defensive enforcer Ryan Hayter, whose partnership with skipper Darren Lock has underpinned much of the side’s success.

Chris Herbst may be drafted in at left-back allowing Chris Clarke to accompany Lock in central-defence for what is anticipated to be a busy shift.

Russell Legg returns to the squad after completing his five-match suspension, but it is Hayter’s absence that is giving Hutchinson his biggest headache.

Referring to the Wiltshire outfit’s 32-goal marksman Matty Minnis, Hutchinson added: “We’ll need to keep him quiet and if we can do that we’ve got a good chance of getting something out of the game.

“Ryan is a winner so to lose him is a big blow but it gives someone else an opportunity to come in and impress.

“It’s an opportunity for Darren Lock and whoever plays beside him to compete against one of the best strikers in the division.”

Including tonight’s match the Bees have four Toolstation Western League Division One fixtures remaining, three of which are at home.

Bees (from): Cuff, Bulman, Herbst, Lock, C Clarke, Coggins, Senior, Legg, Wise, Evans, A Clarke, Condliffe, Mason, Hutchinson.