Graham Alexander on booing Bradford City supporters and why it was a 'shock'
BRADFORD City boss Graham Alexander admits that the sight of some supporters booing at the end of his side’s 2-1 midweek loss to Cambridge United at Valley Parade came as a ‘shock’ – but he feels he knows why.
City’s home form has been outstanding over the past two seasons, with the club reaching the half-century barrier in terms of home points accrued in both 2024-25 and 2025-26.
After a rare blemish against the U’s, Alexander’s side have the chance to get back on track immediately against Mansfield Town this weekend.
Asked about some jeering fans, Alexander said: "It does come as a shock, but then we have to ask the reason why it comes as a shock.
"It's because we've won a shed load of games for a long time, not just a good two-month period but over two years.
"It's not happened to us often where we've lost two league games on the bounce, so it should come as a shock. It does come as a shock to us.
"I think the disappointment of the supporters is natural. I've got no problem with it.
"But I would like it that the next time they’re in the stadium supporting us, which would be tomorrow, they’re fully behind us again. That’s all it is.”
There was obvious disappointment in the changing room – allied to a few harsh words - among players after the match following the surprise midweek reverse, but for Alexander, that’s part and parcel of being in the industry.
The City chief continued: "We can spout off in the changing room among ourselves and be disappointed and maybe say some harsh words between each other.
"I know players do it, player to player. I'll say it to someone at times manager to player, manager to coaching staff, it can happen all the time.
"But the very next day, we're all back on the same page, ready to compete for the next one.
"I don't mind friction and conflict and a little bit of that. It's when it's carried forward and it's already in people's minds, ready for the next time, which we felt was here when we first came.
"It was almost there, ready to spill over. But that was because of the past.
"I think obviously our past in the last two years has been really positive and that's why we get the crowds we do, the excitement we get coming into Valley Parade.
"But disappointment at losing a game is natural. There's always going to be a little bit of extreme of that and that’s fine, I’ll live with that.
"We know we've got thousands of supporters. Like I said, I spoke about the message I got the other morning from a supporter, really positive about having a bit of context. It was already in my head, but I like that support that we get.
"There's a natural phenomenon in football to be disappointed. I've got no problem with that.”