GRAHAM Alexander insists City’s game against Barrow on Saturday was ‘ground zero’ for the squad, and he feels it has now given him a platform for this weekend’s trip to high-flying Notts County.

A 2-1 win for the Cumbrians at Valley Parade made it seven losses in 17 league games for the Bantams, but Alexander is keen to boil the numbers down to a far simpler equation.

He told the T&A after the game: “I’ve said to the players that we’ve got to look at this as game one of our season, not game 17.

“It’s a new start, there’s going to be new ideas, and I want the squad to feel that freshness.

“I’m looking forward to training this week because we’ve got something to work off now.

“When you working off other games, you’ve had no input in that, so it’s really difficult to go off those.

“Now we’ve got something of ours to work off and improve upon.”

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Bantams boss Graham Alexander found the 90 minutes City played against Barrow hugely instructive.Bantams boss Graham Alexander found the 90 minutes City played against Barrow hugely instructive. (Image: Thomas Gadd.)

Alexander felt having that game was a vital step forward, more so than the full week of training at Woodhouse Grove beforehand.

He said: “Training gives you one look at players, but until you get to a game, in pressure situations with opponents throwing different things at you, you don’t get to see the real qualities of the players, their fitness levels, desire and tactical intelligence.

“I’ve learnt a lot from today’s game and we’ll look to learn each week.

“You want to be winning while you’re learning, if you can, but the game has moved us a step forward in our development as a team.”