Bobby Pointon says Bantams boss has decisions to make

But the starting line-up at Colchester this weekend will be watched avidly by fans.

Several hats were thrown into the ring by Tuesday’s impressive dismantling of Derby at Pride Park.

Having made seven changes for the Bristol Street Motors Trophy, Alexander called on those coming in from the cold to present a case.

There was a wad of them in his in-tray by the time the final whistle blew on the League One club’s unexpected exit.

After four games without a league win, it was a powerful call for change.

“Our jobs were to show him that we should be on the pitch and that we deserve a shirt,” said Bobby Pointon, one of the brightest City performers on display.

“I think a lot of players showed that. I was thankful for the opportunity.

“If the team’s winning, you can’t do anything about it.

“Obviously we’re on the side and we’re buzzing that they’re getting results.

“You’ve got to let them stay strong and go through the good spells. Then you’ve got to be patient for when your chance comes.

“I think the full team put a case. Everyone went in with the right attitude and it showed with the result.

“Hopefully we’ve given the gaffer a headache when it comes to picking the team. That was the plan.

“We’ve just got to wait and see what happens. I’ve got to stay patient and keep doing my thing in training – and when I do get the opportunity, do what I did on Tuesday.”

The call for Pointon is always the loudest given his deep City roots. Everyone wants to see “one of our own” out there on centre stage.

Playing with the lively Harry Chapman in support of Vadaine Oliver, the youngster again demonstrated that he continues to take the jump to senior football in his elegant stride.

“We went out with an underdog mentality, which helps us with how we play nice and aggressive.

“We played well, matched the standard we wanted and I thought we were better than them. We didn’t feel much pressure so that allowed us to have a bit more freedom and play the way we wanted.

“The best thing was the way we reacted to our goal. We didn’t just sit in and let them get on top.

“We kept pushing for another to secure the game.

“It always helps to keep on the front foot because then the other team’s thinking, ‘what do we do now?’

“They struggled to get on top after we scored. They had their spells but I think we were the better team for the majority of the game and looked most like getting another goal.”

Bobby Pointon takes a painful tumble during City's win at Derby (Image: Thomas Gadd)

After that shocking collapse against Crawley at Valley Parade, City kept the back door firmly shut. Sam Stubbs and Ash Taylor slotted in with Jon Tomkinson to nullify Derby to the extent that they failed to conjure a single effort on target.

Pointon added: “They had a few scrambles but we defended well.

“A lot of people were putting their bodies on the line, like Stubbsy and Rides (Liam Ridehalgh), so we stayed on top and kept creating chances.

“Derby are obviously going well in League One so it was good to turn them over on their own turf.

“It builds confidence and brings back the positive energy around the team and the club.

“Hopefully we can work on that result and carry it into the game at Colchester.”

That is the immediate aim to use the Trophy triumph as a springboard to get back on course in the league.

But there is also a potential dream date at Wembley appearing on the horizon – with City now just two rounds away.

“Hopefully we can go to Wembley and win it,” said Pointon, whose previous experiences of the stadium were as a City fan in the crowd.

“We’ve come this far and just beaten a good side who are near the top in League One. So, yeah, we’ve got to stick at it.

“Keep focusing on the next game and hopefully it will take us all the way to the final.”