GRAHAM Alexander was delighted with a “really strong performance” as City made it two wins in a week.

Andy Cook’s double saw off Tranmere at Prenton Park on an afternoon when they faced more defensive disruption.

Neill Byrne dropped out of the squad with sickness and Jack Shepherd went off with a dead leg in the second half. Brad Halliday was recalled to play as the third centre half.

Alexander said: “I got a call this morning saying that Byrner had woken up feeling ill and couldn’t keep anything down.

“He came to the hotel and tried to have a pre-match (meal). But he had a banana and was immediately sick.

“He wanted to give it a go in the warm-up to see how he felt but he was back in within five minutes.

“We’d already teed Brad up to potentially play there in the pre-match meeting. So, he was prepared for that.

"How Brad trains, he was ready physically and mentally to come into the team at the drop of a hat.

"When we left the training ground we least expected to have to change the team again but we try to drum it into the players.

“I thought he was magnificent today in a position that I doubt he’s played many games.

"Cheick (Diabate) went into the middle where he hasn't played for us and he was excellent. There were some really strong performances in a really strong professional performance.”

Paul Huntington came on for his first appearance late on. Alexander opted to go with Halliday to start instead because the 37-year-old, signed earlier this month, had been unwell earlier in the week.

"Hunty had a little bit of an illness at the start of the week so we just felt ‘was he up to speed with it?’ “We don't want to start with a team where we know we have to make a sub. I think that's important.

"We made a judgement call on what we'd look like if we didn't have Byrner and fortunately for us it's worked out.

"We know they're all ready to play but it was maybe just a bit too early for him after the illness."

Cook’s double took him up to nine for the season and lifted City into seventh spot.

But Alexander was keen to acknowledge the team effort as much as his striker’s red-hot form.

“Cooky’s job is scoring goals and he’s very good at that,” said the Bantams chief. “But there are other players in the team who are just as good as their jobs but they’re not the headline grabbers.

“But if we can get him into the right areas and give him the right ammunition, as Kav (Calum Kavanagh) did for the second goal, then we know he’s a cool finisher.

“I’m delighted with the stuff he does for us off the ball as well and how he tries to understand what the team needs.

“Scoring goals is the most important for him as a number nine but there are other things he has to do for the team. That gives me as much enjoyment as the rest.”