Graham Alexander says Bradford City have come out of tough spell stronger after Stockport County win

The Bantams lost to Cardiff City, Huddersfield Town and Lincoln City in consecutive January games, but a 1-0 win over Stockport County moved them back up to fourth in League One and showed how strong they are on their own turf.

"Apart from the Cardiff game, the others were away from home," Alexander pointed out. "That's not an excuse because it's something we have to try and address, trying to compete against the top teams, which we did at the start of the season.

"I just thought we had a difficult month where there were different things going on.

"But I think the biggest thing we've tried to keep is our composure, our belief in the players, our belief in what we do.

"I think it's hopefully seen us through that difficult patch and we've come out better because the players have learnt about what it's like to play for Bradford City on both sides of the coin, what it's like to play at the top end of this division.

"And then new players coming in, older players leaving, that sort of turnaround to gel as quickly as you possibly can. I think we're sort of seeing the fruits of that now with the level of the quality of the squad and the results we've picked up.

"I thought the back three defended so well.

"I thought we managed it really well up to a certain point. Then I thought we didn't keep the ball well enough and turned it over to them.

"I think the only issue that came for us in the box were just from set-pieces, really. I thought, open play-wise we managed the game really well."

The sides went into the game only a point apart in the table and Alexander described it as "two good teams that have done really well this season and last season, the season before for Stockport.

"We had a first-hand experience of how good Stockport were early in the season when we had probably the hardest 45 minutes of the season and we managed to turn around at half-time and win the game.

"So we knew it was going to be just as tough, but I thought we managed it in a completely different way from the start. I thought we pressed them really well. The open play opportunities were limited for both teams, showing the prowess of both, the organisation of both teams and the level between them.

"You just hope when it comes down to one moment of quality, it comes from your player and your team and we certainly did that tonight."

If Saturday's win over Peterborough United was about the quality of their football, Tuesday's was about character, defensive organisation and determination.

"When I was thinking about the game on Saturday, it was probably the most complete performance out of any of my teams in 13 years.," said Alexander.

"Just from minute one to minute 90, it was superb.

"You want to take the confidence from that and show the players how good they were, but you also understand that it's not going to be exactly like that again. Don't think we're going to have another 29 shots and stuff like that, but we still have to play in the same way with the same intent and I think that's what we did.

"I thought it was Stockport's quality that stopped us from playing like that again. I don't think it was from the intent of the players and that's the biggest thing for us."

The game was settled by a wonderful goal from Antoni Sarcevic, who has scored home and away in games against his previous club.

"It was a big night for him, against his former club and he was captain for the night with Max (Power)'s suspension, so I'm delighted for him.

"He's had so many moments for us and he is a big game player, he's a big-moment player and it's an unbelievable finish with his left foot."