Bradford City boss Stuart McCall cheered by attitude of Bantams’ emerging youngsters

City started with three teenagers and gave a debut to Leeds United loanee Bryce Hosannah.

Eighteen-year-old defender Finn Cousin-Dawson caught the eye in particular in an unaccustomed midfield role.

McCall, whose side again missed out on an extra point after losing their second successive Group F penalty shoot-out when the game ended 1-1, said: “From Sam (Hornby) in goal, all the way through the team, there were lots of good performances.

“He (Cousin-Dawson) was terrific. I pulled him in the other day and asked if he had ever played there before and he hadn’t. I saw him in training.

“He is a centre-half and played at right-back against Doncaster, but he has just got an attitude that he will go and play anywhere for you. When we were going through possession, he was comfortable on the ball and moving it side to side and he can get a tackle in and gets around the pitch.

“With the squad we have got, it is a healthy squad in terms of numbers, but we have lots of games to fit in.

“Would I think twice about throwing a Finn in? No. I like to see young lads progressing. These games are ideal to see them in.”

Commenting on the display of Hosannah, the City chief also professed to being satisfied.

McCall, hoping to bring in one more signing before the domestic transfer deadline on October 16 at 5pm, added: “I thought he did well. It is what we expect from him.

“He is good going forward. Obviously defensively, like all modern-day full-backs now, everyone is better going forward than they are defending.

“Not that he was shabby in any way, but I think he stood out by getting forward and playing good balls and putting crosses in.

“I thought he was everything we hoped he would be.

“He wanted to step up and take a penalty (in the shoot-out) and I thought he enjoyed his debut. I (also) thought Jorge (Sikora) was excellent again.”

McCall is awaiting injury news regarding Zeli Ismail, who came off at the break with a hamstring issue and goalscorer Clayton Donaldson (foot).

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