Bradford City boss Michael Duff sets challenge for 'desperate' striker Stephen Humphrys after Stevenage success
BRADFORD City manager Michael Duff has challenged 'desperate' striker Stephen Humphrys to not rest on his laurels following a important breakthrough moment in his campaign on Saturday.
Humphrys helped turn the game firmly in City's favour against Stevenage after being brought on after 65 minutes at Valley Parade - in his first league outing of the season.
The former Barnsley frontman was involved in both of the hosts' goals in the final quarter - with captain Antoni Sarcevic's opener from the penalty spot on 79 minutes followed by a killer second from Humphrys' fellow replacement Will Swan, who scored for the first time at league level in 2026-27.
The 2-0 victory secured a maiden win for City under Duff's watch and they were also handed the fillip of moving to the top of League One.
On bringing on Humphrys, Duff said: "One thing is I'll always been honest with the players. Someone has told me that's his first (league) minutes of the season, that's nothing to do with me or Grezza (Graham Alexander) or Humphs. That's not my thing.
"But the conversation that's been had is that people use the word maverick and outlier. You can't be an outlier in this group. Everything I've just talked about is solidity, togetherness, running.
"So if he comes on and does all that, everyone knows what he can do on the pitch., But I need to know what he's doing in the other bits of the game as well. And that's his challenge because he's undoubted quality and we can all see that. You see the bit for the goal and there were some other bits within it as well.
"So that's the challenge for him. And we'll see where it takes us. Don't rest on your laurels now.
"He's played half an hour. So how does he play longer than that? They're the challenges he's got to do and then he can help the team because he's desperate. The one thing he is, he's desperate to help the team.
"So it's like you have to tell him how he can help the team and then he has to deliver.
"He knows the challenges. He knows what's expected of him.
"Not from me, by the way. That's from the group. And he's had an opportunity. He's taken the first part of it.
"Well, how can you (now) kick on and how can you prove? Don't think: 'well, I told you so. I'll rest on my laurels now'. "Get better, get in the team."