Graham Alexander is confident his Bradford City side will deliver a powerful response after their disappointing defeat at Gillingham.
The Bantams missed the opportunity to claim top spot in League Two, falling to just their second defeat in 16 games. Despite the setback, Alexander insists his team remains firmly in the fight for promotion and expects them to come out swinging when they return to action against Tranmere Rovers at Valley Parade.
“I’ve told the players it’s like a boxing match and we’ve lost a round,” Alexander said. “That’s it, but we’re still in the fight.
“If I know anything about these players and what they’ve shown in the past, they get punched in the nose and they are ready to fight again at the next opportunity.
“That’s what we have to be like next week, and I’m sure we will be.”
City Keep Perspective After Disappointment
Bradford entered the clash at Priestfield Stadium looking for a fifth straight win but were stifled by a Gillingham side that had won just once since mid-December. However, Alexander was quick to downplay the defeat, urging his players to focus on the bigger picture.
“Our expectations of ourselves are relatively high, which they should be, but they are not unrealistic. We understand how difficult professional football is.
“We know we’re a good team, we’ve got good individuals, and we are motivated and fit. We know how we want to play and that can take you a long way.
“But there are going to be bumps in the road.”
Mellon Rested to Avoid Injury Risk
City were without in-form striker Michael Mellon in the starting XI at Gillingham, with Alexander opting to rest the forward after he suffered cramp in the previous match. Mellon, who has scored in his last two outings, was named on the bench as a precaution.
“Before the last couple of weeks, Michael’s not played a game for a year,” Alexander explained. “He was injured at his last club, so I don’t know what his pre-season was like. He came off with cramp on Tuesday and then travelled down to Gillingham on Friday for another game four days later.
“We’ve just lost a couple of players through injury and we can’t afford anyone else.”
Writer’s View
Bradford’s loss at Gillingham is a setback, but not one that should derail their momentum. Alexander’s calm approach reflects the confidence he has in his squad, and his boxing analogy is fitting—this is just one lost round in a much longer fight.
With a full week to recover, City have the chance to reset and ensure they hit back with full force against Tranmere. If they respond in the way their manager expects, their promotion bid will remain firmly on track.
