Deja-vu: Post-Harrogate history repeating itself in a good way in League Two for galvanised Bradford City

In the opening third of the current campaign, something similar might just be happening.

There was soul-searching aplenty after City’s awful 3-0 defeat at Harrogate Town on March 23 in a real low point last term for Graham Alexander’s side.

Alexander was also critical of his side’s efforts in their recent 2-1 derby reverse at Wetherby Road, but what has followed it has been encouraging again.

After their poor defeat in early spring, the Bantams embarked on a gate-crashing mission to reach the play-offs, which nearly came off.

In the here and now, City have upped their game by virtue of seven points from the last available nine following a downer in Harrogate late last month.

The similarities to last term might not end there as well, according to Alexander.

He said: "Harrogate was the last of that four-game spell when we had three centre halves injured as well (like this season).

"We came up with what we wanted to be and in the 20 games we’ve had since then, we’ve only lost three.

"That’s a good response from the two groups – the one that finished last season and the one that started this."

On learning more in the tough days as opposed to the happier ones, he continued: "Days like that do, 100 per cent.

"I can smile about now, but it wasn’t nice last season or a few weeks ago. I wouldn’t say it was as bad, but it wasn’t much better.

"I’ve learned to see adversity for what it is. It’s a test of character, a chance to improve and who’s in it for the long haul.

"That’s what we try to do. We try to take the positives from it and turn it into a positive. We did it last time, hopefully we can do it the same again.”