SIMON Grayson felt City didn’t get the breaks after the 2-0 home loss to Southend killed off their faint play-off hopes.

Second-half goals from John White and Marc-Antoine Fortune, via a deflection, condemned the Bantams to their 10th league loss at Valley Parade.

City also lost striker Kai Bruenker to an early injury. He had to be stretchered off after landing awkwardly and left the ground in a protective boot.

Grayson said: “It was a tight game and you can’t fault the players for application, attitude and work rate. Both teams cancelled each other out to a certain degree.

“The first goal was going to be key, even more so than normal, and we didn’t quite get the breaks when they came along.

“We put enough balls in the box but didn’t have the end product of getting enough bodies in amongst it when it really mattered.

“We caused our own problems when Nicky Law didn’t put the ball in the box when he had the opportunity. They broke on the counter-attack and it probably summed up the breaks didn’t go our way when it’s a deflection over Colin Doyle’s head and we lose 2-0.”

Dominic Poleon replaced Bruenker from the bench – but was then substituted himself.

Grayson added: “We tried to do something differently. I wanted to use Lundy (Matty Lund) as a number 10 running from deeper and Nicky Law to get in pockets and ask questions.

“I certainly wasn’t going to take Alex Gilliead off who was a big outlet for us at times or Charlie Wyke, our main striker.

“It was a tactical decision that sometimes you have to make. Unfortunately for Dom, a sub being subbed isn’t ideal but it had to be done for the team.”