Bradford City manager Graham Alexander has played down the importance of tonight’s crucial League Two clash against Port Vale.
The Bantams have pulled themselves into the title picture in recent months. This was due to an excellent run of form which saw them lose just one of 15 league games.
Having been 15 points behind Walsall on Boxing Day, they enter tonight’s clash just a point behind the leaders. However, they have missed several opportunities to leapfrog the Saddlers over the course of the past month, losing two and drawing one of their last four fixtures. Meanwhile, Port Vale are back in the automatic promotion conversation, setting up tonight’s huge clash.
Alexander – “Just A Normal Game”
Tonight is a huge night for League Two. Not only is it third vs second at Vale Park, but fourth placed Doncaster Rovers host top of the table Walsall. However, Alexander is concerned about the fixture list. Speaking ahead of the game, the ex-MK Dons boss said:
“It’s a good game, similar to last week and Saturday’s. They are all good games but for different reasons.
“We haven’t got to build it up just because it’s one of the other teams competing at the top end.
“We have to try and improve our creative quality but keep that defensive strength and discipline we’ve shown all season long. We have to maintain that.
“We should go into it as just a normal game and play our football. If we do that, it always gives us the best chance of winning.”
Following tonight, Bradford host another team in the promotion race in Crewe Alexandra on Saturday, whilst Port Vale travel to Walsall in another huge game.
Writer’s View
Publicly, Alexander’s stance is very clear but privately he must be thinking that tonight will be pivotal. Three points tonight would see them open up a comfortable gap on the chasing pack but could also see them move to the top of the table. Defeat wouldn’t be a disaster though. Barring a big swing, they would remain above Port Vale on goal difference, but it would allow Doncaster to potentially move to within a point having played a game less. Tonight’s viewing at Vale Park and the Eco-Power Stadium will be fascinating.
