The skipper admits it will feel like a long week before home clashes with League 2 formside Colchester.
Sequential defeats have suddenly raised questions about the Bantams following their great run since the turn of the year.
They are still second and are three points behind leader Walsall, but the team is once again narrowing the gap behind them.
Smallwood has asserted that despite the set-up, his belief in the team has not diminished.
“I always feel better on Saturday Thursday than on Saturday Saturday, and it's a longer week at this stage of the season,” he said.
“But the schedule is a schedule and we are physically and mentally fresh and ready for Colchester.
“They are fighting for something good, so I hope they come out here and express themselves.
“Like they were two games ago, they're full of confidence, but after two losses, confidence is still there and hopefully we can get up to that opportunity.
“It's about calming down, dusting yourself and coming back to freshness.”
Smallwood admitted that there were many complaints about Saturday's defeat. This concluded his 10-game winning streak at Valley Parade. City has also lost key players as goals have been exhausted in the last two games.
He added:
“The main thing was the nature of a stop-start. There was no rhythm and it was really slow.
“Obviously, they went ahead and then it turns out it's really hard to create something clear. They were fighting for their own lives, but you have to find different ways to break your team and you can't play the same.
“The team has tried it out at home in the last 10 games, and we have found a way. Unfortunately, we didn't do it this time.
“When the game flows freely and causes a massacre with its front legs, we were the best and we couldn't make it a success.”
City will face five of the top eight with nine run-ins as Colchester moves to the final playoff spot behind the 13-game undefeated surge. Smallwood emphasized that their fate will remain in his own hands.
“We are still second and we have to try to focus on ourselves, we have no control over anyone else.
“If we can do that until the end of the season and focus on ourselves, we can perform at our best.
“When you're worried about other things and look too far, you can stagnate like we did against Tranmia. We need to focus on all the games and empty the tanks, hopefully the results will come.”
