'A brilliant invention': Bradford City boss Graham Alexander on play-offs and expecting the unexpected
GRAHAM Alexander's experience as a play-off ‘veteran’ of almost three-and-a-half decades has not diminished his sense of excitement at what is to come in his latest foray as Bradford City manager.
The 54-year-old has experienced good and not-so-good moments in equal measure as both a player and a manager, since his first experiences with Scunthorpe United in 1991-92.
As a player, Alexander's first triumph came with Burnley, who were promoted to the top-flight in 2009.
In his guise as a manager, he won the 2013–14 League Two play-offs with Fleetwood and took Salford City up to the EFL via the end of season lottery in 2018-19.
On the play-offs, Alexander - speaking ahead of City's first leg of their Roses League One semi-final at Bolton Wanderers on Saturday evening, said: "It’s not the neutrals who are excited, so are we.
"They are a brilliant invention and came in just before I started being a player. So, they’ve been around a long time – 40 years now.
"It’s been brilliant for English football and the pyramid, the openness of the leagues all the way through.
"Plymouth are a great example this season. They were roughly bottom of the league when we beat them in December and they finished a win outside the play-offs.
"That carrot can keep everyone alive. The stories you’ve seen out of the play-offs over the last 40 years are amazing.
"If you finish mid-table and you see other teams in it, there’s a jealousy and a feeling of envy and wishing that was us.
"We’ve got to see it from that perspective. We wouldn’t want anyone else to be in our position right now.
"We’ve got this opportunity and I think the excitement goes beyond the neutrals. But maybe there’s a bit more pressure if you’re involved.”
A common trait of play-off football since their inception in 1986-87 has been a predilection for nervy first legs, although Alexander's maxim is that it is best to expect the unexpected.
He added: "The play-offs have got a history of throwing up mad games and mad performances. I don’t think it’s just on the second leg or the final.
"It does take a different entity because of the pressure and the profile. It’s still a game of football with all the usual standard stuff that you have to do to win it.
"Sometimes it can change the feel of the game knowing there’s another leg. You’re basically playing the first half of a game over 90 minutes.
"But it can dictate what goes on with the second leg. I think I’m pretty good at my job but I’m not a clairvoyant – I don’t know what’s coming but we’ll give it our best shot and see where it goes.”