Bradford City boss Graham Alexander won't blame home pitch

Saturday’s postponement against Notts County leaves the Bantams squeezing in 13 matches between now and April 27.

Seven of those are at home, starting with tomorrow night’s rearranged visit from Doncaster.

That will put a huge strain on the playing surface that has been struggling badly since the end of the year.

But Graham Alexander insists City will not view that as a get-out if they come up short.

“The players will be ready whenever we play,” he said.

“What we don’t want to do is use the condition of the pitch as an excuse for anything.

“We have to make sure our performances are bang on regardless of what stage we play on, home or away.”

City’s game was off for the second weekend running – and the third time at Valley Parade this season.

Constant rain left surface water on areas of the pitch to leave referee David Rock with no choice. The postponement was announced just over an hour before kick-off – as it had been at Barrow the week before.

Alexander accepts the pitch will struggle to improve in the short term.

He added: “I’m not an expert on that side of it.

“I know the club’s had one of the best pitches in the league for the last two seasons.

“I’ve not spoken with anybody at length about why it is how it is. We just make it the best condition we can from now.

“There’s no way the groundsman is going to be able to improve the pitch at this stage of the season. It’s a summer job.

“It’s similar to a squad of players. Pre-season is so important, if you don’t get the work done in there then trying to play catch-up in the middle of the season is nearly impossible whether it’s with the squad or the pitch.

“You have to make do until you have that timeframe to do it.

“It’s going to be hard. You saw the groundsmen working so hard to try and get the game on.

“Sometimes things go against you and you just have to hold your hands up.

“I think the work ethic and the work rate of the groundsmen can’t be questioned because they do their best to get the games on.

City ground staff trying to dry out the Bradford end (Image: Simon Parker)

“But it needs to be addressed in some capacity.

“I know there are issues around the pitch because of the size of the stands but that’s historical.

“Obviously it’s not right for the club that we are but sometimes there are reasons that are unmanageable.”

City set up a brief training game at Apperley Bridge on Saturday afternoon to keep ticking over.

Alexander admits the busy schedule ahead will be a test of squad stamina.

“It will be but we’re hoping that by the time the games come round we’ll have a couple more players back. Fingers crossed, we don’t lose any more.

“It might get to the point, you never know, where we may end up with a three-game week and playing Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday.

“Hopefully we don’t get to that stage but if it’s constant midweek the fitness levels of the players are going to be tested to the limit.

“We’ve got the work into them. That’s why training on Saturday was so important because the players are going to have to be in the best condition to compete every three or four days.”