Bradford City chief Michael Duff on why his glass is half full - plus praise for next opponents Oxford United
FOR most Bradford City followers, their glass is very much half full given the club's strong league position, combined with a seven-match unbeaten sequence in League One.
Despite both of the above, it remains half empty for others. Namely because of a haul of just 10 league goals in 11 matches thus far in 2026-27.
Two of Michael Duff's three league games in charge have ended goalless. There is frustration at that, but Duff is philosophical.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's trip to Oxford United, he said: “There’s a touch of frustration that we've had two 0-0s out of the last three games.
"We should have definitely won at least one of them and could have won both.
"But we've nicked a couple of 1-0s (earlier in the season) when probably statistically we shouldn't have done.
"So it does balance itself out over a season."
Duff's mindset is helped by his broad confidence in his players. While many variables determine results, the experienced manager has seen enough in his group to know that City are on the right path.
He continued: "You can't pre-empt it but I've got an idea of what I'll get from the players.
"It doesn't guarantee results. But I've got an idea of what the performance might look like, which is a good thing.
“It's not a nice feeling as a manager when sometimes you rock up on the sidelines at five to three and you’re not sure what you’re going to get here.
"Sometimes you do get that feeling - and with this group, I don't get that."
This weekend, City face an Oxford side who are only outside of the top six on goal difference.
Given that the U's have games in hand on teams above them, expect that to change in the near future.
Duff has been impressed by their reaction to relegation last term under a young head coach in Aaron Ramsey.
More especially given the fact that the club were placed under a temporary transfer embargo by the EFL in July - preventing them from making summer signings.
Duff continued: "Obviously they made a (managerial) change. There was a relegation, but one thing they did is they kept the team.
"If you actually look at their record in the second half of the season, it wasn't relegation (form).
"From Christmas to the end of the season, they definitely wouldn't have been in the bottom four and I don't think they've lost anyone.
"So when Championship teams go down and they show that end of season form - and keep that team together - that's when they're always going to be a difficult team to play against.
"They've got a manager who's obviously played at the highest level, so I’d imagine he'll have detailed ideas that some people might not have because he's worked under world-class managers. All I know is they can hurt you in different ways.
"I know a couple of the players from previous clubs in terms of Michal Helik and Brodie Spencer. The fact that they have that level of player tells you they're a good team."