Why Bradford City's Clarke Oduor has been told to shoot on sight this season - and not just in games

The Leeds United product made Andy Cook's goal in Tuesday's 1-1 League Cup draw at Grimsby Town (the Bantams went out on penalties) but has not scored one himself since February, his fourth of his debut season at Valley Parade.

Alexander, a former full-back with a proud penalty record, is encouraging all his players to shoot more, especially Oduor.

“This season I just need to shoot more," the Kenyan international acknowledged. "It could take a deflection and could go in and take it from there.

“In mini-games in training, a shot on target is a goal so you have people shooting from everywhere.

"Sometimes you might try to find somebody else in a better position but a couple of times last season (opposition) teams just shot, it took a deflection into someone's path and it was a tap-in."

Alexander said: "I think it's a problem in general in football, to be honest, I see it a lot.

"There's a lot of possession-based football but the thing is people want to see shots and goals – goals win you games and promotions, this, that and the other.

"I used to shoot for fun in training, it was ridiculous. I just wanted to score goals – it's brilliant, isn't it?

"We try to release the pressure on players that not everything has to be the perfect FIFA (computer game) goal. Look at Patto (Alex Pattison)'s on Saturday – touch, bang. I felt like I'd scored it, it's brilliant to see.

"Part of the conversation I had with Clarke is I think his numbers in training – because we keep them – should be higher.

"I don't think Clarke has enough of that end product in training for what he has."

Meanwhile, Alexander has told midfielder Alex Gilliead and Kevin McDonald they must decide if leaving in the transfer window is the best things for their career after neither featured in the first two squads of the season.