Graham Alexander reaction after Bantams win again at Barrow

Tyler Smith’s late goal at Barrow last night made it four wins on the bounce and 16 points from the last 18.

The Bantams head into the final game in ninth spot – two points off the play-offs.

They need to beat Newport at Valley Parade on Saturday and hope Barrow lose again and Crawley fail to win.

But Alexander praised the response since the four-match losing run last month that appeared to have killed their season.

Alexander said: “Every credit to the players and the staff.

“We all know what a hole we dug for ourselves and it was all pouring on top of us.

“We had to have a little bit of clarity in our thoughts and still try to finish the season in a competitive fashion.

“We had to show pride in ourselves, pride in our upbringing, pride in the club, pride in our team-mates – all those things that go on in your head.

“That’s all I asked for and that’s all I’m going to ask for on Saturday.

“If we’re not successful, at least we’ve showed the best side of ourselves. If we take that next step, then great but it will come down to our character and personality.

“If we don’t play with that, we’re not going to be good enough.”

City bossed the first half at Holker Street but led only 1-0 after a cracking goal from Bobby Pointon.

Kian Spence levelled on the hour straight from a free-kick before Smith came off the bench to net after being set up by Andy Cook and fellow sub Harry Chapman.

“I’m pleased that the players have once again showed character and personality to come back into a game where we should have never been drawing anyway,” added Alexander.

Graham Alexander was unhappy with Barrow's free-kick equaliser (Image: Thomas Gadd)

“I thought we were brilliant in the first half and should have been two or three up. But we weren’t and a good team like Barrow are going to come back into it and have a spell.

“They pressed us a lot harder and turned us and got a few set-pieces that put us under pressure.

“Ultimately, they got an equaliser from one – a really poor goal from our perspective that went through the wall.

“Our performance came a little bit flat after that. But I thought the subs that came on halted their momentum and gave us fresh momentum in the attacking phases.

“We had a couple of opportunities before the goal. I think it was Tyler’s third chance and he had that moment of quality to score.

“Chappy has won a great header in the middle down to Cooky, he’s reversed it into Tyler and he does what he does and stuck it into the corner.

“He would have been under massive pressure in his head – so fair play to him.”