Captain Richie Smallwood calls for Bantams to stay focused

The last few days of the summer market are likely to see more movement in the Valley Parade squad.

Graham Alexander is eyeing another centre half before Friday night’s deadline while the club are braced for the potential departure of Jake Young, who has been thinking over an offer from Fleetwood.

Alex Gilliead could be among others on the move in the late rush towards the deadline.

But captain Smallwood insists any uncertainty about who's staying or going cannot creep into the dressing room.

“It depends on your personal situation because everyone’s different,” he said.

“Everyone’s got contracts, everyone’s got a bit of interest whether you’re getting bought, loaned out or might not be in the manager’s plans whatever.

“The manager might fancy you but football can change in a second.

“Anything can happen, you might get a red card or an injury or he might want a midfielder, defender, striker. It could be you that might get a call.

“If it’s right for the club and right for you then sometimes players might have to take it.

“It can change in an instant but at the moment everyone’s just focused on the next game.

“If they’re here they are here, if not then all the best to them and they move on.

“But the lads who stay here have all got the same goal and we’re all pulling in the right direction.”

Alexander named an unchanged side against Bromley but Smallwood, who scored the opener, felt the impact of the subs will keep everyone on their toes.

“We’ve got competition for places,” he added. “If you don’t perform over the course of two, three or four games you might find yourself out the team.

“There are players ready to step in. Bobby (Pointon) came on Saturday, did well and got the goal, Patto (Alex Pattison) has played well all season, Sarce (Anthony Sarcevic) is not far away from scoring a few goals and Andy (Cook) is still scoring as ever.

“Everyone knows what’s happening. There are probably going to be more bodies coming in and leaving and us 11 who get chosen on a Saturday have got to try and keep that shirt as long as possible.

“I think the lads who started and came on did themselves no harm.”

City’s first home win of the season put them second in the early League Two table with seven points from the opening three games.

Smallwood said: “Obviously, we’re still so disappointed from last week with the disallowed goal. It could be nine out of nine but we can’t grumble with seven.

“We’re second at the moment and it’s been a decent start. But it means nothing – we’ve still got 43 games left and the next one at Grimsby is the most important.

“We’ve got to go there and put in another performance and make sure we’re right at it.”

Richie Smallwood misses from the spot against Grimsby (Image: Thomas Gadd)

Smallwood missed a penalty at Blundell Park in the Carabao Cup, blazing the ball against the bar.

But he stood up to slot away the first spot-kick of the shoot-out after 90 minutes.

Smallwood admitted he felt more nervous stepping up for the second time in that game than taking another on Saturday.

“That was probably more pressure than this one coming soon after a miss.

“But nothing had changed. I was still confident.

“I tried to hit the Grimsby one a little bit too hard and I knew the next one, the keeper would dive the other way.

“He basically told me that before I took the penalty. I knew which way he was going.

“I was still confident and the gaffer obviously had confidence in me because he hadn’t chosen another penalty taker.

“He knew I’d have the character, the responsibility and the guts to step up again. I did that and thankfully hit the net so early.

“If you’re getting 10 penalties, you can’t keep going the same way or aiming for the same place all the time. You’ve got to practice and get confidence in taking different penalties.

“Whatever you choose, you’ve got to go with it on the day and thankfully it went in.”