Graham Alexander admits Bradford could’ve been 4-0 down before starting comeback

Graham Alexander praised Bradford for never giving up after Antoni Sarcevic clinched a 2-1 comeback win at his former club Stockport.

Owen Moxon fired the home side in front as they dominated the first half.

But goals after the break from Will Swan and Sarcevic earned the Bantams their third win in four League One games.

Manager Alexander said: “The one positive we got at half-time was that it was 1-0 and we know we score goals. It could have been 4-0.

“We tweaked it tactically but that didn’t win the game. It was the players going from five yards away from their opponent to one yard, putting them under pressure then showing what we’re like when we get the ball.

“We can look at what we didn’t do in the first half. But sometimes you have to take your hat off to the opponent and say they were very good.

“We didn’t really have a spell in the whole 45 minutes, so to be able to turn that round as a group of players was brilliant to see and be a part of.

“We believed in ourselves more, went those extra yards and played with being prepared to fail.

“They must have thought how was it 1-1 after being so dominant. But that’s why you’ve got to stay in games and not give up.”

Odin Bailey missed a free header for Stockport and they nearly equalised from the final attack but Bradford goalkeeper Sam Walker, who had a fine game, pushed Benony Andresson’s close-range header against a post.

Stockport had lost a two-goal half-time lead to draw at Leyton Orient on Saturday and manager Dave Challinor was stunned to see another collapse.

He said: “To go from how good we were in the first to that second half, is pretty mind-blowing.

“The goals we concede are a shambles and that needs to change.

“The first half was brilliant, we were fantastic and played some really good stuff. I won’t take anything away from the players for that – we should be further ahead than we were, and we shouldn’t lose the game.

“We’ve missed better chances in the second half, ultimately, than the first. You can’t always play well, teams will try and stop you and that’s fine.

“If Bradford stopped us, no problem. But what’s hurt us is not doing our job defensively and switching off for two goals.

“The Beno chance is close, but the goalkeeper shouldn’t have a chance with it. Beno has half the goal to aim at.

“I wrote pages and pages of really good stuff in the first half. The second half, I was writing lists and lists of mistakes. That will cost you and that’s what we need to improve on.”