Bantams boss Graham Alexander wants consistency in friendlies

The Bantams chief has mixed and matched in their two friendlies and a behind-closed-doors game in pre-season up to now.

But indifferent displays from the first half line-ups against both Chorley and Guiseley have thrown up some early question marks.

Alexander was particularly scathing with their first 45 minutes at Nethermoor – which he branded “a waste of time”.

With another private match arranged for tomorrow, he insists that some need to buck up their ideas from the weekend.

“Both teams were strong on Saturday,” he said. “There were two trialist centre halves, but one played in each half, so the others have been with us.

“There were two senior goalkeepers in both teams, two senior strikers, it was only the difference in the wing-backs.

“I don’t know if people are reading into the first-half team and thinking, ‘oh I’m in the first team’. Well, I don’t know about that.

“We’re still mixing the teams up and trying to see different partnerships and relationships.

“All the halves have been different in the three games we’ve played, as in the starting line-ups.

“I just hope people are not reading into it and think that because they are starting the first half they are in the first team. Not playing like that they won’t be.”

Alexander highlighted goal-scorer Alex Pattison and Bobby Pointon for their contribution in the changed team after the break.

For the second weekend running, he noticed a marked upgrade in the effort from City’s second-half line-up.

Alexander added: “I thought Patto’s energy was good and Bobby showed everyone what it’s like to run with purpose and to think about how to win a game of football both in and out of possession.

“There were some much better performances in the second half from individuals. But we got that at Chorley last week as well.

Graham Alexander called City's first half a waste of time (Image: Thomas Gadd)

“There was almost a realisation of the second-half team in both weeks that ‘we can’t do that again’ after first half.

“It was like a reminder for everyone and the team did it much better in the second half.

“I gave the players a little bit of leeway at Chorley last week because it was our first game.

“I’m going to be a little bit more straight to the point with this one.

“The scoreline wasn’t the issue, it was how we went about it and that wasn’t good enough.”

City's under-19s are in friendly action at Eccleshill United tonight. 

Their visit to Pickering Town last week was called off just after the hour point because of the extremely wet conditions.

The match against the Eagles kicks off at 7.45pm.