What Graham Alexander had to say as Bantams beat Mansfield

Last night’s 3-0 win delighted Alexander as Vadaine Oliver, Bobby Pointon and Clarke Oduor scored for a team showing eight changes.

They were forced into a formation switch to 4-4-2 because of the shortages at centre half – and the City boss was thrilled with the response.

“I thought they were excellent to a man, in and out of possession,” said Alexander. “They did all the things we would have hoped for going into the game against a really good opponent.

“The players were superb to keep a clean sheet, score three goals and win three points to put ourselves back in contention after the disappointment of the previous game in the group.

“The back four were excellent. The two midfielders were so experienced and good on the ball and clever with their positioning.

“And then I thought the front four were really potent – and not forgetting Doyler (Colin Doyle) because the keeper and defenders pride themselves on getting clean sheets and we haven’t been as good on that as we’d hoped.

“That was a step forward but it was all aspects of the performance. They all delivered.

“We were disappointed on Saturday with the result and certainly how open we were. But this was the complete opposite so every credit to them.”

Oliver headed the opener after just three minutes – his first goal of 2024.

Alexander hopes that will provide the spur to get the striker going after such a fractured time at the club.

“That will do him so much good. You could see from his celebration – he was desperate to get that goal.

“I’d said to him before, and I know it sounds obvious, but if we’re in wide areas in the final third just make sure you’re between the sticks.

“He’s a great target for us and we want him to be that potent threat.

“He had a bit of a setback with the concussion but he’s worked hard to get back into the squad.

“I asked him to step up as a leader in the group and I’m seeing that from him off the pitch.

“He had a couple of opportunities when he played earlier in the season that didn’t fall for him. But it was a perfect header from a great ball in from Patto (Alex Pattison)."

Graham Alexander was pleased with every area of the team (Image: Thomas Gadd)

Pattison partnered Richie Smallwood in central midfield and looked back to his best, having a hand in all three goals.

Alexander said: “We played in a formation that we saw him as the attacking eight.

“He started the season really well and then plateaued out a little bit.

“I haven’t seen a lot of him for us but it looks like that’s his position – a midfielder who bursts forward from there.

“Him and Richie dove-tailed really well. The structure suited them and it was great to see.

“They were right in the hub of it and gave the rest that solidity and experience because it was a really young team.

“We had to go to a back four and I just wanted to see if we could continue to roll with it.

“We’ve got to take a lot of confidence from that. There are little bits we can improve but as a turnaround performance from Saturday, it was superb to watch.”

Ciaran Kelly has an appointment this morning on his injured ankle while City expect Neill Byrne to be missing for a couple of weeks.