Simon Grayson delighted to see Bradford City's morale boosted with impressive display

BRADFORD CITY manager Simon Grayson has praised his players for avoiding the perils of an '˜after the Lord Mayor's show' type performance against Portsmouth on Tuesday night.
Bradford City boss Simon Grayson at Valley Parade on Tuesday night.  Picture: Bruce RollinsonBradford City boss Simon Grayson at Valley Parade on Tuesday night.  Picture: Bruce Rollinson
Bradford City boss Simon Grayson at Valley Parade on Tuesday night. Picture: Bruce Rollinson

Fresh from an uplifting televised display against promotion-chasing Shrewsbury Town at Valley Parade last Thursday, where the only thing missing with a goal in an impressive showing in a 0-0 draw, City replicated that performance and found the goals to match in a morale-boosting 3-1 victory.

Goals from Nathaniel Knight-Percival, who struck Bradford’s first home goal of 2018, Matthew Lund and top-scorer Charlie Wyke did the damage as City moved up to tenth in League One ahead of Saturday’s Roses trip to Rochdale - after securing just their second win in 16 matches.

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City are seven points behind sixth-placed Scunthorpe United, with a game in hand.

Grayson said: “One of the last things I said to the players was that I did not want to come in afterwards talking about ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’.

“Having played well Thursday, I did not want to see them let themselves down. But they have responded really well from the drubbing and the criticism they got against Blackpool.

“They have moved forward in terms of confidence levels. They don’t come back in big leaps, you have to earn them and take them in small steps.

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“It is an extra spring in the step which hopefully we can carry forward into Saturday.”

Charlie Wyke scores Bradford City's third goal against Portsmouth.  Picture: Bruce RollinsonCharlie Wyke scores Bradford City's third goal against Portsmouth.  Picture: Bruce Rollinson
Charlie Wyke scores Bradford City's third goal against Portsmouth. Picture: Bruce Rollinson

“They have set the standards but we have to go beyond that. We had to be better than Shrewsbury game in every department and take it up another notch or two.”

The only downside to the night saw Tyrell Robinson stretchered off with a shoulder injury after lengthy attention and he will be assessed today.

Grayson added: “He fell on his shoulder. We will have to wait and see, but let us hope it is nothing too serious.”

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