Bobby Pointon maturity delights Bradford City's Graham Alexander
Graham Alexander praised Bobby Pointon for not taking irresponsible risks to play in Bradford City's League One play-off semi-final first leg after holding back Tyreik Wright.
Pointon and Wright missed the regular-season run-in with an ankle and a muscle problem respectively.
Pointon was in the away end as the Bantams lost 1-0 at Bolton Wanderers on Saturday, but Wright came off the bench. It remains to be seen if Pointon will be fit to play any part in Thursday's second leg.
"We were always chasing the timescale around him and pushing it," said manager Alexander.
"I just think the games have just come too quickly. It's just been difficult for him to do.
"What I like about Bobby, he's actually said to us that there's just a little bit missing and he doesn't want to let anyone down.
"That's brilliant from him but let's see how the next few days go."
Wide player Wright has been chomping at the bit.
"He'd been training all week," revealed Alexander. "He came in to see me, I think it was just before Exeter, saying he was ready to be involved. I was like, 'Right, okay.'
"We just felt it was right to get more training time. Half an hour was probably his maximum.
"It was good timing to bring him on just after they had scored or maybe five minutes later.
"He just gave us an extra dimension with his pace and he looked sharp.
"He's been training and running with the medical team for a long time, for quite a few weeks.
"It's just him getting the football fatigue into his legs and being able to manage that.
"But it did him the world of good, playing that 30 minutes or so.
"I thought it was just the right time and he did give us a little bit more of impetus in the front line."
Alexander was delighted at the way Bradford defended to keep Bolton to one shot on target at home, his opposite number Steven Schumacher pleased that Amario Cozier-Duberry scored it.
The winger also hit a post minutes later.
"We've only conceded one shot on target so from a defensive point of view, I thought we played really well.
"We actually had two or three good moments where we could or should have scored so it's all to play for.
"Our composure was good, our discipline was excellent. Our connection to each other was actually on point. They've got a lot of attacking talent in that (Bolton) squad.
"And you saw the mentality of the team at the end, without us going gung-ho from the sidelines by putting loads of (attacking) players on they just wanted to go for it.
"I love that mentality about the players, they never give anything up.
"The only frustration, I would say, is that we didn't get our own opportunities on target.
"But I think the second leg will be a tough game as well for both teams."
Former Bantams midfielder Schumacher commented: "We're glad to get ourselves in front. That was the objective in the tie, to try and be ahead going to Valley Parade, which we've managed to do.
"It was a tough game. I'm glad to get another clean sheet – that was important.
"We've got another really tough game to go there in what's going to be an intimidating atmosphere, which we saw two weeks ago (when Bolton played at Valley Parade in the league). We knew this tie was going to be tight."