'Take your medicine': Bradford City boss Michael Duff's message after Huddersfield Town loss - plus one small consolation
FOR Bradford City manager Michael Duff, there was one consolation with a very small 'c' following his side's painful derby reverse to Huddersfield Town.
It arrives in the fact that the Bantams have a clear week - having had relatively few 'proper' training sessions under Duff due to their match schedule following his appointment on October 6.
City switch to cup business and host non-league Marine in the FA Cup next Saturday before welcoming York City in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday week.
Given the good chance that their league appointment at Leicester City on November 14 will called off due to international call-ups, City's return to league action is likely to be on November 21 when they entertain Doncaster Rovers.
Duff said: "We've got a couple of weeks now before the next league game.
"Obviously, there's a couple of (cup) games in between that. But we'll need a reaction now. And the reaction has been good week to week."
Duff, who was 'serenaded' in unflattering terms by fans of former club Town in the second half, insists the Bantams must take their medicine following the maiden defeat of his tenure, on a day when they also conceded their first goals under his watch.
Equally, the 48-year-old is keen to look at the broader picture at City following a 'bad day at the office'.
He continued: "There have been a lot of good performances. And they were good for the five or six games before that (Huddersfield). So, you put it together, it's been a good, strong 10 or 11, 12 games.
"We've just been beaten. Take your medicine. Dust yourselves down. Stay together. And crack on to the next one.
"It's easy when you're winning or you're not conceding goals. The seasons are long; 10-and-a-half months. And there's loads of ups and downs. And football doesn't work in a straight line.
"There's been bumps in the road before. Hopefully, it's a bump in the road.
"Ultimately, it's just a bad day to have a bad day at the office.
"That's the frustration. We know we've let the supporters down in terms of the result. And things like that.
"But I don't think we've been played off the park, whilst it was 11 v 11. It was key moments.
"That's what they do well. They transition really well. And we knew that. That's what we have to take home."