It's good to talk: Bradford City manager Graham Alexander on return of defensive leader to League Two duties

BRADFORD City manager Graham Alexander has hailed the return of central defensive lieutenant Niall Byrne, who returned to the side following injury – and to impressive effect - in Monday’s much-needed win over Newport County.

A summer signing from Stockport County, experienced defender Byrne marshalled the backline adeptly in the 3-1 success over the Exiles, City’s first league triumph in five matches.

Byrne came off late on after cramping up on his first-team return, but will be fine for Saturday’s trip to Tranmere Rovers with the 29-year-old’s leadership skills and defensive prowess having been missed in his four-game absence.

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Alexander, still without the likes of Aden Baldwin, Ciaran Kelly and Callum Johnson at the back alongside midfielders Antoni Sarcevic and Alex Pattison, said: "He (Byrne) is a good talker and can organise players.

Bradford City manager Graham Alexander during the Sky Bet League Two match against Newport County at Valley Parade. Photo: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.Bradford City manager Graham Alexander during the Sky Bet League Two match against Newport County at Valley Parade. Photo: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.
Bradford City manager Graham Alexander during the Sky Bet League Two match against Newport County at Valley Parade. Photo: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.

"When we recruited these players in the summer, we pretty much knew what we were getting.

"We didn’t gamble. We had a profile of what we needed to go with the players we’d already retained.

"He gave us attributes we felt weren’t there.

"It wasn’t just missing one player when he was out for a few games. It was a snowball effect, three senior centre halves who had been playing so regularly and three attacking midfield players.

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"But he was a welcome addition back after a tough couple of weeks.”

On the restorative effect of Byrne’s return earlier this week, the City chief added: “It would have helped Jack (Shepherd) and Cheick (Diabate) just settle into their game (on Monday) instead of trying to lead each other when they’ve got enough on their plate in a different formation that we hadn’t trained for.

"Byrner likes the responsibility. He took it on his shoulders to relax those two guys especially.

"If you look through the spine of the team the other night, you’ve got Sam (Walker) in goal, Byrner, Richie Smallwood, Andy Cook right through the middle

"There’s a lot of experience, but there’s also a lot of vitality and youth on the outside of them."

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