After confidently naming his squad for tomorrow’s FA Trophy tie at Harrogate Town it all began to unravel for John Deacey.

The Avenue manager thought his greatest concern this weekend would be picking a team with the best chance of reversing a recent dip in form. The results have dried up and Bradford go into tomorrow’s derby on the back of three defeats.

Deacey said: “There were a couple of players who had taken knocks but nothing really to worry about and I knew Richard Marshall was suspended. I thought that I might lose another one with the injuries but it got worse as the week went on.

“Our last training session was yesterday and I had ten players.”

After last Saturday’s 4-2 loss at Gainsborough Trinity the next Conference North fixture was quickly upon the squad. Monday night saw Avenue hosting Lee Sinnott’s Altrincham and that ended with another 4-2 defeat.

Some players limped away from the ground after that second game in three days but Deacey expected most to recover. What he didn’t want was more bad news from the training sessions early in the week.

“Harrogate will be tough and I expect this game to be as tight as the County Cup tie (Harrogate won 1-0 with an 88th-minute goal) a couple of weeks back.

“We had about five changes in that game but I wanted to be back to full strength for this one.

“But with Marshall out and Nathan Hotte, Martin Drury, Adam Clayton and Scott Maxfield all doubtful I have no idea what the starting 11 will be.”