Graham Alexander eyeing third time lucky with Bantams

After defeats against Barrow and Notts County, the new City boss will be looking to get off the mark against a third top-seven opponent when Accrington cross the Pennines on Saturday.

Alexander will hope the midweek momentum from the Bristol Street Motors Trophy crushing of Barnsley can carry into the visit of the club currently occupying League Two's final play-off spot.

But a slow start following a change of manager is nothing new at Valley Parade.

It’s coming up to 20 years since Bryan Robson’s televised debut in the City dug-out saw a remarkable 3-2 comeback victory over Millwall.

In that time, only Michael Collins, Gary Bowyer and the Mark Trueman/Conor Sellars double act – when they were given the permanent job after an interim stint - have enjoyed winning starts.

Mark Hughes, like Alexander, began his Bantams tenure with back-to-back losses.

The Welshman’s arrival at the end of February 2022 saw City beaten at home by Mansfield and Swindon before a table-turning triumph at leaders Forest Green.

Derek Adams kicked off with a goalless draw at Exeter but then won his first home game with a last-gasp victory over Oldham. Stuart McCall never won his opener in three stints in the hot-seat.

Simon Grayson and David Hopkin both needed five attempts to make their first impression on the win column.

And it took Phil Parkinson seven games and 40 lean days before he could finally savour that winning feeling.

His gilded run as Bantams chief got off to the slowest of starts until Craig Fagan netted the only goal against Torquay – with the side already down to 10 men after Andrew Davies was sent off on his home debut.

Craig Fagan strikes a pose after scoring against Torquay in 2011 (Image: Newsquest)

Here's how long Alexander's most recent predecessors took to achieve that first league win:

MARK HUGHES (3)

Mansfield (h) L0-2; Swindon (h) L1-2; Forest Green (a) W2-0.

DEREK ADAMS (2)

Exeter (a) D0-0; Oldham (h) W2-1.

MARK TRUEMAN/CONOR SELLARS (1)

Leyton Orient (h) W1-0.

STUART McCALL (2)

Grimsby (h) D2-2; Stevenage (h) W3-1.

GARY BOWYER (1)

Peterborough (h) W3-1.

DAVID HOPKIN (5)

Blackpool (a) L2-3; Charlton (h) L0-2; Doncaster (a) L1-2; Bristol Rovers (h) D0-0; Wimbledon (a) W1-0.

MICHAEL COLLINS (1)

Shrewsbury (a) W1-0.

SIMON GRAYSON (5)

Charlton (a) D1-1; Plymouth (a) L0-1; Wigan (h) L0-1; Doncaster (a) L0-2; Gillingham (h) W1-0.

STUART McCALL (2)

Port Vale (h) D0-0; Peterborough (a) W1-0.

PHIL PARKINSON (7)

Morecambe (a) D1-1; Bristol Rovers (h) D2-2; Port Vale (a) L2-3; Crawley (a) L1-3; Wimbledon (h) L1-2; Burton (a) D2-2; Torquay (h) W1-0.