GRAHAM Alexander admits the Wycombe Wembley hangover could be one of the factors behind City’s current slump.

The Bantams head to Harrogate tomorrow desperate to end a run of three straight home defeats that have hammered their play-off hopes.

It will be only the third time they have played away in 12 games as woeful form at Valley Parade continues to stir up frustration on and off the pitch.

City have failed to win any of their last five home outings – a run which started with that heart-breaking EFL Trophy semi-final loss to Wycombe.

Alexander hopes there are no lingering frustrations from having their dream of reaching Wembley snatched away after going so close.

But he accepts the huge disappointment could have hit the players harder than he had anticipated.

“It was a big game, a massive opportunity for us and we played exceptionally well,” he said. “How we lost it was gut-wrenching.

“I didn’t want to make a big thing of it (at the time). We all had the same feelings, we all wanted to get to Wembley in the final.

“But, for me, you have to swallow the pain and deal with it and not feel sorry for yourself.

“I’d be disappointed if that was the underlying reason that we’ve had a dip in form.

“I wouldn’t be surprised because we are all emotional people with our feelings.

“But if we want to be successful, we have to be stronger than that. Disappointments happen all the time in football and you have to overcome them.

“Over 10 months and 50 games, you have so many different challenges and hurdles. Whatever is thrown your way, you have to take it.”

Alexander insists it would “sound silly” to mention the play-offs following a wretched run that has seen City drop to 17th place. They are still seven points behind seventh with a cluster of teams above them.

He added: “Results haven’t been good enough for us to be in a position right now to achieve what we all wanted to do. We still have to try and do that with the remaining games.

“It’s going to take all eight games realistically to do anything spectacular. But we just need to focus on the next one.

“We had an excellent result in the last away game and we have to draw confidence from that.

“It is difficult at the moment. It’s not a reason but playing on that pitch (at Valley Parade) every three days has not helped at all.

“It’s not been easy for the players but that’s not an excuse for the last three results. It hasn’t made us make the decisions we have done in those three games.

“We need to improve the quality in the final third but that comes from the whole team, not just the front guys.

“We haven’t scored enough from set-pieces this year or many from outside the box. There’s a responsibility on the whole squad and staff, me included, to improve that goal output.”