SAM Walker might have been surprised to see the make-up of the defence in front of him on Saturday afternoon, but it was in attack where things all fell down for City.

While wing backs Lewis Richards and Brad Halliday both played at centre half with Cheick Diabate and Paul Huntington left on the bench, the former was arguably the best player for the Bantams.

And in the end, it was only a penalty conceded by striker Andy Cook that cost them in a 1-0 defeat.

The City keeper told the T&A: “It’s my job to organise and try to encourage where I can.

“I must say I thought Lewis was excellent today on the left side of the three, in a position that’s not hugely familiar to him.

“It’s great for him to have the confidence of a decent game under his belt, and he can hopefully take that forward into a positive run of games.

“But my job doesn’t really change whoever plays in front of me, I just have to marshal them wherever I can.

“And apart from their penalty, which was the deciding factor, we largely did our jobs defensively.”

After the opening 20 minutes, Walker was practically a passenger on Saturday afternoon.

Asked how agonising it was to be at the other end watching his team have all of the ball but fail to put it in the net, the keeper admitted: “You’re just hoping you break them down and that you get that opportunity to score.

Andy Cook came so close with this late chance, as he steered Lewis Richards' low cross just wide.Andy Cook came so close with this late chance, as he steered Lewis Richards' low cross just wide. (Image: Thomas Gadd.)

“You’re watching the clock at the other end, seeing the minutes go by, but I’ve always got confidence in what we can do going forward.

“I thought we played some nice stuff, but they defended quite well and their keeper’s made a couple of saves you might expect him to.

“It is frustrating for me at the other end watching that, and because I can see the whole game in front of me, I’m trying to help out.

“Can we pick out some different gaps? Can we move the ball a bit quicker if our intensity drops off? Things like that.

“But we gave them a headstart early on and the game became very difficult from that point.”

And the fact that situation was mess of City’s own making led to a miserable full-time debrief.

Walker admitted: “There’s immense frustration in the dressing room.

“It’s been a bit of a theme of ours away from home, giving teams a bit of a headstart and being 10, 15, 20 25 per cent off the opposition early on.

“Today it was a penalty, but it’s been different goals in different games, and as soon as you give the opposition the chance to go 1-0 up on their own patch, it’s difficult to break them down in this league.

“We tried and had a lot of the game, which I think we dominated after they went ahead, but ultimately their defensive structure was sound and I don’t remember us having any really clearcut chances.

“It was a really disappointing day, particularly with the fans backing us so well, as they always do.

It was a frustrating day all round for the City fans, summed up by their angry reaction to Fleetwood celebrating their goal right in front of them.It was a frustrating day all round for the City fans, summed up by their angry reaction to Fleetwood celebrating their goal right in front of them. (Image: Thomas Gadd.)

“It was another sold out away end and it would have been great to have had that feeling at the end that we’ve had before, where we celebrate a collective three points on the road.”

He added: “The only positive for me is that we’re away again next weekend against Colchester.

“That might sound odd, given the away troubles we’ve had this season, but I just think it’s a great opportunity to write some of the wrongs of today.

“We can get back in to training, look at today, why we’re not starting how we should do and get a really good week’s work in.”