Bradford City manager Graham Alexander admitted his side had dropped two crucial points after they conceded a dramatic late equaliser in an enthralling 3-3 draw with Chesterfield.
The Bantams looked in full control during a dominant opening half-hour at the Technique Stadium, storming into a 2-0 lead. Bobby Pointon opened the scoring on 10 minutes, slotting home confidently after a flowing move. The advantage was soon doubled when Antoni Sarcevic coolly converted a penalty following a handball inside the Chesterfield box.
Bradford Surrender Late Lead
Despite controlling the early stages, Bradford allowed Chesterfield a route back into the contest just before half-time. Jenson Metcalfe curled in a superb effort to halve the deficit, shifting the momentum towards the hosts heading into the break.
Bradford responded positively after the restart. Alex Pattison’s header restored their two-goal cushion, nodding in from close range to make it 3-1 and seemingly putting the visitors back on track for a vital victory in the League Two automatic promotion race.
However, Chesterfield refused to buckle. Will Grigg calmly finished to bring it back to 3-2, setting up a tense finale. Then, in the second minute of injury time, Liam Mandeville’s deflected strike saw him regain possession and poke home an unlikely equaliser to snatch a point for the hosts.
Alexander said: “We have dropped two points today because we were superb for large parts. Unfortunately they have scored at such a killer time for us in the 92nd minute. The lad (Mandeville) has actually skewed his shot and it has come back to him.”
The draw leaves Bradford still occupying third place, but their grip on automatic promotion has weakened slightly with two games remaining. Alexander expressed frustration not only at the timing of Chesterfield’s goals but also at his side’s failure to kill off the match when they were in control.
The City boss revealed that illness within the camp had disrupted his plans in the second half, contributing to a dip in energy levels that allowed Chesterfield to get back into the game. Despite those challenges, Bradford still carved out excellent opportunities after Pattison’s goal but were wasteful in front of goal.
Chesterfield, meanwhile, remain three points off the play-offs with two games left and will take heart from the resilience shown against one of the division’s top sides.
Writer’s View
Bradford City’s inability to see out the game at Chesterfield could yet prove a pivotal moment in their season. Having played some of their best football for long spells, Graham Alexander’s side must now regroup quickly to ensure they secure a top-three finish. The missed chances and late defensive lapses offer a timely reminder that no promotion race is ever won without complete focus until the final whistle.
