Graham Alexander has stated that his Bradford City side are disappointed they failed to beat Bolton Wanderers, meaning their playoff chances will go down to the final day.
A draw at home to the Trotters means that City’s fate will be decided next weekend when they travel to Exeter City, with a solitary point being enough to ensure that Luton Town will not be able to pip them to a top-six place on goal difference.
Jackson Stands Out In Draw
On an afternoon when Bolton looked the more assured side at Valley Parade, it was hometown hero Kayden Jackson who clinched a vital point for his side, marking his first goal since returning from injury.
Discussing the game as a whole and the former Derby County man’s impact to the Telegraph and Argus, Alexander said:
“I think the draw was a fair result but it was a game that both teams could have won. I was really pleased with my players and how they approached it.
“As a newly-promoted team, going up against Plymouth and Bolton, we’re walking off a little bit disappointed we haven’t beat them, considering where they’ve come from and what they have to compete at this level.
“Everyone at the club deserves massive credit for holding our heads up going up against opponents and never feeling second best. Even at 1-0, we saw the right body language in the players, the right mentality and a never-say-die approach, which we expect now.
“I think Kayden’s just needed a bit of time coming off the bench and getting back to full fitness. His running date is superb. He can play down the middle or off the right or off the left probably.
“It was a great finish from him, so I’m really pleased that he’s shown the support what he can do in a short space of time.”
Final Day Permutations
With the key trio of Antoni Sarcevic, Bobby Pointon and Tyreik Wright all on the sidelines for the past few games, it has been a hard slog for Bradford City to get themselves over the line and secure the playoffs.
That has been plain to see with recent results, meaning that it all goes down to the final day with Exeter City standing in the Bantams’ way, with Matt Taylor’s side having it all to play for when the sides meet at St. James’ Park.
Just a single point will be enough for City to finish inside the top six, but a loss means that it is down to Wigan Athletic and Bolton Wanderers to take points away from Stevenage and Luton Town respectively.
City’s chances of a home second leg in the semi-finals are also in the balance, with Stockport County also on 74 points and Bolton just one ahead of the duo, with the Hatters having a crucial game in hand against Port Vale prior to playing away at Barnsley on the final day.
Jackson Key To Promotion Chances
While Sarcevic has undergone some injections to try and get him back in time for the trip to Devon, there is no news on both Pointon and Wright’s condition, meaning that City could be without their playmaking stars in the game they need them most.
That puts more pressure on those who started against Bolton, most notably Kayden Jackson and Stephen Humphrys, to try and bring a positive result home and give Bradford a shot at back-to-back promotions.
Of the many faces that were brought in over January by the Bantams, only Jackson can be deemed as a success so far, looking the most positive of the attacking additions with Ethan Wheatley yet to get a first goal for the club and Paul Mullin seemingly fading into irrelevancy with just nine appearances to his name.
Graham Alexander’s side have lacked a clinical goalscorer all season, and as seen yesterday, their potential opponents all have a key talisman at their disposal after Stockport’s Louie Barry scored a hat-trick and Johnny Kenny opened the scoring at Valley Parade for Bolton.
Humphrys and Jackson have at times shown glimpses of being able to change a game on their own, and will now need to do it on the final day against Exeter and then a few more times in order to put their side into the Championship; otherwise, City’s chances could be scuppered very quickly.