TWO days on and the frustration from Salford is still dying down.

Here is the last word from the Peninsula Stadium and a few things we noticed from City’s agonising 1-0 defeat.

STAYING CALM

Charles Vernam suggested that City need to relax again in shooting positions for the goals to return.

Just one in the last four games has set the alarm bells ringing – although it’s not through lack of chances.

The Bantams have created more than enough to have picked up more than just the single point since their last win at Mansfield.

But continuing to miss decent opportunities can create a vicious circle as it makes players more anxious in front of goal. The likes of Andy Cook need to trust themselves in that situation to get back on the scoresheet rather than snatching at chances.

STEPPING UP

With Cook not scoring since Mansfield, the danger of relying too heavily on one man to score the goals is clear.

Elliot Watt’s thundering strike from outside the box against Walsall aside, Cook’s team-mates have to start sharing the load.

Lee Angol’s absence has not been adequately replaced so far and the jury is out on Caolan Lavery and Theo Robinson from their brief outings.

But midfield also have to contribute more – Vernam, Callum Cooke and Gareth Evans have all been guilty of not taking chances. You can see why Derek Adams had been targeting another attacking midfielder before switching his sights to a back-up striker.

SOLID BACK-UP

News that Niall Canavan will be missing from the heart of City’s defence for three weeks put the seal on a miserable Saturday in Salford.

The captain has been a key part in Adams’ side and leaves a big hole to fill.

Step forward Fiacre Kelleher who will get the opportunity now to show that he is worth a second crack at league football after spending last year with Wrexham.

The Irishman certainly made a good impression on Saturday, winning headers and making important blocks to keep the dangerous Ian Henderson – previously a regular scorer against City – very quiet.

Kelleher’s partnership with Paudie O’Connor got off to a solid start.

CUTTING CORNERS

Cooke’s corners have proved to be statistically among the most effective in League Two to date.

But City were undone themselves from one as they switched off to concede Matty Lund’s late winner.

It was a really poor goal to concede as Lund got away from intended marker Robinson to score far too easily from close range.

Having kept a lid on Salford up to that point, no wonder the Bantams were fuming to go down to such a sloppy moment.

BOWYER BALL

Gary Bowyer milked the moment after Salford poached their late victory to make it two out of two against his former employers.

But City fans will have traipsed away from the Peninsula Stadium knowing that their team had thrown it away.

For supposed pre-season promotion favourites, Salford had offered very little up to their goal and certainly nothing that the Bantams could not deal with.

That’s what really stung about the result because Bowyer’s side had been no better. But dropping points to a team likely to be a rival in the race for the top three is costly.