Bradford City Boss Graham Alexander has praised his side for their impressing 2-1 victory over fellow promotion chasers Chesterfield on Sunday after coming from behind to seal three points at Valley Parade.
This win makes it one defeat in seven matches for The Batams in all competitions, and puts them right into the race for the promotion after big wins yesterday and on Boxing Day against Port Vale. In fact, no team has beaten Bradford City on their own patch since the final week of October, when high-flying Doncaster came away with a 1-2 win, a run which is the second-best home record in the league.
But manager Graham Alexander was full of praise for his side’s battling performance after the game when speaking to The Derbyshire Times, with the result taking Bradford within two points of the playoffs with just over half of the season left to play:
“In the second half the performance was magnificent. We pressured them all over the pitch, we turned the ball over and we created chances. And we hardly had any opportunities to concede whereas in the first half we were way too open and we were our own worst enemy.”
He added: “I have to give Chesterfield credit, they have got a lot of good players, so we are delighted with a big three points.”
The Bantams travel to an out-of-form Barrow side on New Years Day, before a huge fixture back at home against fifth place Grimsby Town, they also are still in the EFL Trophy, facing Aston Villa’s under 21 side in the last 16.
Alexander’s leadership will be key if they are to secure promotion, especially after yesterday’s comeback, as well as the whole squad chipping in with goals too, after talisman Andy Cook failed to find the back of the net :
“It was a tough game,” “They are a good team, Chesterfield. They make you work and the first-half was not what we aspired it to be. I thought we turned the ball over so many times, we were slashing at things and we weren’t connected with our press. We were doubtful as a team and they got the upper hand and they deservedly went in front. I was really happy to go in at half-time 1-1, settle the players down and remind them of what we are good at.”
Writers View
You feel as though every year Bradford City flirt with the top seven in League two around this time of year. A club that has been in League Two for so long and really want to finally pull together and get over the line to secure promotion back to the third tier.
This week will give them huge encouragement that they can do so, beating two of the promotion favourites at ease to kickstart their playoff push, a big few weeks now will follow… There is always one team that puts a majestic run of form together during the second half of the season, this year it could may well be Bradford City.
