Hopkin says Bantams defeat down to lack of concentration

DAVID Hopkin insists City’s players care about the club’s perilous situation.

The weekend loss at Walsall kept the Bantams stuck in League One’s bottom four.

With relegation rivals Oxford and Shrewsbury both winning away, the gap to safety has now become three points – and Hopkin’s men have a worse goal difference.

City would have overhauled Walsall, who had lost their previous five in a row, with a win.

But they were booed off by the travelling fans after going down 3-2 to a team who spent virtually all game with 10 men.

Hopkin said: “We have to stick together but it was the first time I’ve heard a few players having a go at each other after the game.

“I think every player here cares. Everybody at the club wants to make sure Bradford City do well.

“It’s not a blame culture in the dressing room. It’s just a few players saying that it’s not down to effort but lack of concentration.

“That’s what let us down – nothing else.”

Hopkin appreciated the disappointment of the fans as City blew a huge chance to claw their way out of the relegation zone.

“I can understand their frustration – I’m as frustrated as anyone,” he added.

“I’m disappointed because we should have won this game 2-0 or 3-0.

“I spoke to the players and they need to go and take responsibility now.

“I’ve given a lot to the club. Twelve hours every day I work and it’s about time the players took more responsibility and help everybody with the situation they are in.

“I’ve catered to every player’s needs since I’ve come in. We’ve done everything as professionally as we can.

“We always try and make training fresh and different things like that.

“We need to stay positive. Concentration cost us – nothing we’ve done during the week.

“It’s simple concentration and that has cost us three points.”

Having picked up only two points from the four games in February, City now begin a tough run of fixtures with Saturday’s long trip to fourth-placed Portsmouth.

Hopkin is hoping the underdog status can work in their favour.

“Sometimes that suits us. I think the players step up to the mark when they play bigger teams.

“That’s no disrespect to Walsall or anybody we’ve played.

“We need to make sure we stay focused. I know it’s difficult for everybody because we are effectively four points adrift now.

“It’s up to me to go and lift the players. I’m sure they will bounce back because even though we got beaten, I still think we’ve seen enough from the squad and the players and their desire.”

City had 23 shots at goal against Walsall and Lewis O’Brien hit the post. But many of their efforts were blocked as the home side defended bravely to protect the win.

Hopkin said: “The longer the game went on, I thought we would get back to 3-3 and go on and win it.

“But Walsall had something to hang on to. They were blocking shots on the line, it was hitting people in the face, we’re hitting the post – we just needed to be a wee bit more clinical.

“But you shouldn’t be going away from home, scoring two goals, and coming away with nothing.

“We’ve switched off and conceded three really poor goals.”