Bradford City manager Graham Alexander insists that there are no “dead” games left in the season as his team prepares for another tough encounter in their push for promotion.
The Bantams were held to a frustrating goalless draw by struggling Accrington Stanley at the weekend, missing an opportunity to climb to the top of League Two.
The result leaves Bradford a point behind leaders Walsall, who were also held by Wimbledon, while Port Vale and Doncaster both picked up important wins. With the race for automatic promotion tightening up, Bradford will now travel to Vale Park, hoping to get back on track after a series of missed chances.
Alexander Reflects on Missed Opportunity
City’s inability to break down Accrington’s resolute defence has raised concerns, as it marked the third time in the last month that Bradford failed to score against teams from the lower end of the table. However, Alexander was not overly critical of his players, acknowledging that Accrington’s strong defensive setup made it a difficult contest.
“The closer you are to the end of the season, the mindset intensifies and it becomes clearer what teams have to do in each game. There are no dead games,” said Alexander. “We just have to take what we did from the game, a clean sheet, a point added on to the three we won last Saturday and take it into the next one.”
Alexander remains optimistic, stating that the points accumulated from draws are valuable if the team can continue winning key games. The Bantams now have to refocus and look ahead to the important fixtures that could define their season.
City struggled to find space on the narrow pitch at Accrington, which made it difficult for them to implement their usual style of play. Alexander has already adjusted his training schedule to prepare for similar challenges in upcoming games, particularly the clash against Port Vale, who sit just three points behind Bradford in third place.
Writer’s View
The draw at Accrington, though frustrating, was not a disaster for Bradford City. In the context of a tight promotion race, a clean sheet and an extra point are still useful. The key for Alexander and his team will be to find a better balance between defence and attack in their upcoming games. The next few matches, including against Port Vale, will be crucial in shaping their promotion hopes.
