HARRY Chapman was subbed at half-time against Wimbledon because he was fading.

Chapman was the match-winner in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy quarter-final with a superb free-kick against Doncaster.

But Graham Alexander took him off at the interval in yesterday’s goalless draw.

Chapman had a couple of scoring chances as the Bantams fired a blank but Alexander felt that the previous game’s exertions then caught up with him.

“Chappy felt the effects of playing on Tuesday and emptying himself out there,” said the City boss.

“I thought he started brightly the first 15-20 minutes. But I could see a drop-off in his movements and his quality when he had the ball in the final third.

“It’s part of the challenge we have as a team that everyone has to be in the best condition they can be to play 90 minutes.

“We’d rather take players out the team through performance rather than because of the physical elements.

“Chappy knows that. We’ve spoken to him about the improvements we have to help him try and make.

“But we know that when he’s fresh and he’s got that zip, he’s a really good player for us.”

Chapman, making only his second league start of the season, was replaced by Bobby Pointon for the second half.

Alexander added: “I just felt those 10-15 minutes before half-time showed him dropping off a little bit.

“It happened in the previous game when he’d played on the Tuesday. I waited too long to make the change (against Colchester) and it cost us a win and I didn’t want to do that again.

“Like we said, we look at the bench and the squad and I feel there are good players who can help us win a game and I’m going to make changes.”