Bantams must plan without Andy Cook for trip to Crewe

The talisman will miss Saturday’s trip to Crewe after receiving his fifth booking in last night’s dour 1-1 home draw with Barrow.

Cook went on to grab a point for the Bantams as he headed the equaliser from Bobby Pointon’s cross.

That was his 10th league goal of the campaign – and 12th in all competitions.

• MATCH REPORT: Cook to the rescue on turgid night at Valley Parade

But he will sit out this weekend and Graham Alexander admits others need to step up.

“That’s the challenge that the club have faced for the last four years since Andy Cook’s come here,” said the City boss.

“It’s up to the players to stand up and be counted, the ones that come in instead of him or play round where he plays.

“That’s how we see it. I know the goalscoring aspect says we’re a one-man team at the moment.

“I don’t think we’re contributing enough goals from around the team, which is why our tally in recent weeks hasn’t been great. People have to take responsibility for that.”

City have now gone five league games without a win after a poor contest against a Barrow team also struggling for form.

Alexander felt his team were “too passive” – and only picked up their tempo after falling behind just before the hour.

Pointon was one of four subs thrown on straight after and produced a lively display to help the Bantams fight back.

Alexander said: “I don’t think anyone deserved to win the game. It was very stuttery.

“A lot of that came from us overthinking passes and runs and a lot from the amount of free-kicks that were given.

“Both our strikers got booked in the first five minutes, which I’ve not seen before.

“But we just didn’t play with a fluidity and a pace in our decision-making. It made it a stunted game.

“We conceded a goal we were disappointed about but it gave us a ‘nothing to lose’ attitude and then we found the speed in our play.

“Bobby had a lot to do with that with how he played and gave us that extra composure. Aden Baldwin did as well when he came on.

Graham Alexander had to watch the game from the stand (Image: Thomas Gadd)

“It’s a point from being a goal behind but I think it’s two points we’d have liked more.

“If we’d have played better, we would have had the opportunities to do that.”

City’s lack of conviction came as a surprise to Alexander, who had highlighted their good home record in the dressing room beforehand.

“In our last 10 league games at Valley Parade, we’ve won seven and drawn two.

“That’s not a stunted team but a really good one that’s strong at home and played with a high tempo, put teams under pressure and won a lot of games.

“It was this group of players that have done that and I wanted to remind them.

“But I didn’t feel a team that was playing with an assertiveness and dominance considering our record here. That’s a frustrating one.

“The crowd have got behind us brilliantly this season. We’ve enabled them to do that by winning games.

“So, there was no reason to go into the game with any trepidation if that’s what they were feeling.

“We just overthought things. Where there was a pass to be made, shot to have or cross to play, we either turned it down or took another touch and played it slower.

“I think we were waiting for the perfect thing to appear – a parting of the waves and everyone runs through.

“That’s not going to happen. You have to put teams under pressure by committing to the box and trying to take people on one v one.

“They looked a little bit passive and that’s just not us.”