GRAHAM Alexander knows he is lucky to have someone as supremely gifted as Jamie Walker in his squad, but he was quick to praise the Scot’s junior partner in crime too after Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Barrow.

Walker probably does not belong at League Two level, while Low Moor youngster Bobby Pointon will believe he has the talent to rise up the divisions as his career progresses.

But the Bantams will be making the most of them while they are at Valley Parade, and the two attacking midfielders looked bright as usual against Barrow, with both unlucky to end up on the losing side.

After the game, new City boss Alexander told the T&A: “We’ve seen Jamie in different positions in training all week, and I thought he and Bobby were superb today to be fair.

“They got into great pockets of space, they made impressive runs, they created opportunities, they got shots off, all the things we want from our attacking midfielders.

“They were a creative force, had loads of energy and they never stopped wanting to get on the ball.

“That’s the sort of character and personality we need at Bradford City, certainly to be playing here, but more importantly, to win here.”

Alex Gilliead did a solid job playing behind the pair in a deep-lying midfield role alongside City captain Richie Smallwood, but the former Newcastle and Scunthorpe man also impressed after moving to left-back just before half-time.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Alex Gilliead spent half of the game on Saturday in midfield and half at left-back, doing a good job in both positions.Alex Gilliead spent half of the game on Saturday in midfield and half at left-back, doing a good job in both positions. (Image: Thomas Gadd.)

That change was forced upon Alexander after both Liam Ridehalgh and Daniel Oyegoke were forced off injured, even though the new boss was initially unaware that was even an option.

He admitted: “It wasn’t me that thought about making that switch.

“We were looking around for options, as we’d already put on a right-back at left-back and lost him (Oyegoke) too.

“But someone on the bench told me Gilly had done a bit at left wing-back at Scunthorpe.

“When I called him over and asked him about it, he told me he’d play wherever I wanted him to.

“I thought, because we had so much possession and attacking play, that he wouldn’t be tested too much as an out-and-out full-back and that seemed to be the case.

“Gilly’s a good player, who’s an intelligent guy that wants to work hard for the team, so he was always going to go in there and do a job.

“But I thought we lost a little bit of that outlet on the left-hand side with Gilly not being a natural full-back, and I felt Adam (Wilson) coming on towards the end gave us that real width and commitment to get beyond people and attack.

“That was a gamble in itself though, because I haven’t seen Adam play there at all before.”