Bradford City boss Graham Alexander on Mansfield Town rival Nigel Clough's confession after League One draw
GRAHAM Alexander insists he has no issue with rival managers employing negative tactics based primarily on stopping Bradford City – as opposed to focusing on their own team's strengths.
Promotion-chasing City have been stymied in their last two games against Mansfield Town and Wigan Athletic, with both clubs frustrating Alexander's side by resisting any urge to engage in an open spectacle.
Their approach has worked, with the Bantams beaten 2-0 at Wigan last weekend before being pegged back in a 1-1 draw against Mansfield at Valley Parade on Tuesday night.
The smart money is on more of the same on Saturday when fourth-placed City face another side still in the relegation picture in Burton Albion, managed by ex-Bradford chief Gary Bowyer.
Albion can become the only side to do the double over City in 2025-26, should they prevail at the Pirelli Stadium.
Questioned about teams being unwilling to take on his side in a pure footballing sense, Alexander, who welcomes back key defender Aden Baldwin from suspension, said: “They did at the start of the season. But I think that's why we won a lot of games.
“They were quite open games, which happens at the start of most seasons because everyone has their plans with their optimism at the start of the season.
“But when it comes down to this stage, it's business. Nigel (Clough – Mansfield boss) said something to me after the game that 'it's not how we usually do things, but we need the point.'
“And that's it. That's where we are. We're all managers.
“We're all in the fight for survival, as in points, wins and games. You do what you have to do. At the start of the season, there's a bit more scope about trying to play certain ways for teams. But right now, everyone's just bothered about wins or points. And that's fine.
“I'm sure we'll have games from now until the end of the season when teams go: 'we're going to come at you'. Listen, we've got our problems with that as well. But it's up to us to be able to find solutions against all sorts of game plans.”
City's trip to Barnsley on April 18 will kick-off at 12.30pm for TV coverage.