Keeper Sam Walker shocked by collapse in Bantams fortunes

Contestants would have to guess the unexpected events that were about to follow after the action was paused.

Any City fan asked the same question as they bounced out of Accrington a fortnight ago would have been scratching their heads to come up with the outcome of the three games since.

The Valley Parade form can be iffy at the best of times but nobody could have predicted a hat-trick of home horror like that.

Sam Walker admits to the same stunned reaction to his team’s sudden implosion.

“It certainly wasn’t something I saw coming,” admitted the big keeper, who has been exempt from the heavy criticism coming the players’ way.

Forest Green celebrate after scoring at Valley Parade (Image: Thomas Gadd)

“We came off the high at Accrington where it was such a dominant performance and we had the game won within half an hour. It’s been a shock to me.

“A week’s a long time in football. We were all hugely excited going into three home games and what could come of that.

“Here we are and the feeling is very different.

“We’ve probably conceded at poor times in all three games and that’s definitely a factor.

“To give Forest Green something to hold onto so early in the game was really shooting ourselves in the foot.

“Likewise with a team like Mansfield on Saturday, they blitzed us in the first half hour similar to what we’d done to Accrington.

“We played Mansfield and Notts County, two hugely-attacking, free-flowing teams who score a lot of goals and we weren’t quite where we should be defensively.

“We’ve come off both the attacking and defensive side of the game at the wrong time. You combine them together and it’s made for a really sore three games.”

City anguish as Mansfield score again in their 5-1 win (Image: Thomas Gadd)

Walker takes no consolation from his own exploits in keeping the goal tally down.

The number one has been busier in the last two games than in any previous since joining in January.

But it’s conceding from set-pieces in all of those defeats, something that City usually never do, that has really hit home.

“It’s hugely frustrating. Set-plays are something we put a big focus on.

“The Forest Green one still frustrates me now because it was so early in the game.

“We look at the build-up as well and could we have avoided giving the corner away before that? Yes, we probably can.

“Likewise with the free-kicks against Mansfield and Notts County. Could we have avoided giving those away? Again, we probably can.

“We’ve been strong at defensive set-plays and that’s something we’ve got to look to get back to.

“We go back to what we’ve been doing so well from an attacking and defensive perspective. We talk about that aggression and being on the front foot.

“We’ve come off that at both ends, including defending set-plays and that desire to defend that ball into the box.”

Mathematically, City’s play-off chances are still not done with a seven-point gap to seventh place. But many supporters feel the season is effectively over after the recent collapse.

“I understand that,” added Walker. “We haven’t given any reason for anybody to shout positively over the last three games.

Notts County inflict even more misery on Tuesday night (Image: Thomas Gadd)

“But all the while, it’s still a possibility. We’ve made it very difficult for ourselves with the results we’ve picked up.

“But there are always teams that go on that run and we’ve got to believe we can do that.

“That’s not a belief that comes from blind faith. We’ve shown at times this season as a team that we can go on that sort of run.

“We need to start it at Harrogate and that’s what makes the game so big.

“All the while, it’s still a possibility we have to be full of belief that’s the case.”