Graham Alexander highlights 'intelligent' aspect of Bradford City's performance against Wigan Athletic
Bradford City boss Graham Alexander has highlighted an “intelligent” aspect of his side’s display against Wigan Athletic.
The Bantams returned to winning ways with a Boxing Day victory, edging past the Latics at the University of Bradford Stadium.
Stephen Humphrys fired Bradford ahead, scoring against his former club, before Callum Wright drew level for the visitors.
Wigan were later reduced to nine men, losing Jensen Weir and Matt Smith to red cards, and succumbed to a Joe Wright winner in the 90th minute.
Graham Alexander hails ‘intelligent’ Bantams
Alexander said: “We should win from that stage when it goes down to nine men. But, as you know in football, it doesn’t always happen like that because the opposition get more determined.
“The way we used the ball and created opportunities and made them work was really intelligent.
“It would have been easy just to bang balls in the box and try and force the issue. We had to be a little bit more expansive with our passing and get behind people and I thought we did that really well.”
‘Special moments’
Bradford are still third in the League One table but are keeping up with the top two, sitting just one point behind second-placed Lincoln City and four adrift of league leaders Cardiff City.
Alexander said: “At this stage of the season, I think all the games are really tight for certain periods.
“Then moments or events happen and it sways the trajectory of the game in one way or another and I think when we scored, we were in pretty good control.
“When they scored, I thought we were still in control and it was a really poor goal from our perspective.
“But there have been some special moments here in the last 12 months and they keep coming.”
Ryan Lowe reflects
Wigan boss Ryan Lowe added: “The lads are trying to play and quieten the 22,000 crowd.
“We’re trying to compete and carry on and then we get downed by a sucker punch, a set-play when we’re missing two key players.
“I’ve told the lads in no uncertain terms that they’ve got to stand up and be counted. I’ll lead them and they’ve got to follow because we’ve got more games that are going to be tougher and tougher.”