BRADFORD City chief Graham Alexander says that defensive rotation in his three-man backline is likely to continue amid a demanding schedule for the club.

Alexander brought back Matt Pennington and handed a debut to Blackburn Rovers loanee George Pratt on Saturday, with Macaulay Gillesphey and Reece Welch dropping to the bench.

The Bantams boss, who will make changes across the team in Tuesday's EFL Cup tie at Leyton Orient. said: "It (defence) was the only part of the team that we didn't have duplicate positions coming into the season.

"Obviously up to the Burnley game, we would have made a couple of more changes if we could, but we didn't.

Bradford City manager Graham Alexander applauds supporters at Saturday's League One game against Mansfield Town. Photo: Tony Johnson.

placeholder image — Bradford City manager Graham Alexander applauds supporters at Saturday's League One game against Mansfield Town. Photo: Tony Johnson.

"Ibby (Touray), Macaulay and Penno had to play again, so they were the only lads not getting a break.

"I think Ibby’s the only one now that hasn't had that. I've known him a long time and he's a hardy boy and resilient.

"But I don't think Macaulay had played week in week out last season, then all of a sudden he's thrust into game in, game out, in high-pressure games, big pitches and the way we press and everything.

"When we are rotating, we do look at the physical output of the players and their past history. Peno tore his hamstring last season, out of nowhere, so that was why Tuesday we had to go with Reece.

Bradford City defender Aden Baldwin wins the air miles against Mansfield Town as debutant George Pratt (second right) looks on. Photo: Tony Johnson.

"With Macaulay, we could see he was flagging a little bit on Tuesday, so we have to use our experience, the data and their history and try to manage that group as well as possible.

"We know he hasn't done those sorts of distances, or been used to doing them anyway, so I think it was definitely the right thing to do."

Alexander admitted to be delighted at the debut performance of Bradford-born Pratt, told he was playing around two-and-a-half hours before kick-off.

He added: "I'm so pleased for George, I thought he came in and was excellent, really composed and obviously playing for his hometown club, it was a good first day for him.

"He's a Bradford boy and he's really impressed us in training.

"That's why we were confident to play him here, even though we haven't covered everything we need to in terms of tactics with the game.

"But he's shown enough knowledge of what we want to do and he's certainly showed an eagerness to compete and be a good defender and he's good on the ball."