Bantams must handle occasion in tense finale against Newport

The Bantams are eyeing a fifth straight win tomorrow – and hope that Barrow and Crawley both stumble - to sneak into seventh on the last afternoon of the season.

Opponents Newport head to Valley Parade having lost seven in a row – the worst current record in the division.

But Graham Alexander insists it will not be the gimme against the Exiles that many are anticipating.

He said: “That’s something we have to overcome, certainly when you’re playing for Bradford at Valley Parade in League Two that expectancy is there.

“We’re trying to create a way of playing that can handle that sort of pressure and have a little bit more control.

“We have the players in a more composed state going into these games.

“What the bookies are doing is irrelevant to me because I’m not a gambling man anyway.

“It’s about how we train, how we approach that game. Past form doesn’t mean anything.

“You’ve seen it fluctuate for so many clubs in this league.

“We’ve done it in spells and two months ago nobody foresaw what Doncaster have done since.

“Form really is quite temporary. Our mindset and approach can be consistent and that’s what we’ve got to try and focus on.

“Ignore all these outside influences because they won’t impact on the game.”

If City miss out on the play-offs, tomorrow could be the final appearance at the club for some out-of-contract players.

But Alexander admitted his opinion has shifted during their recent revival which has transformed the picture following the run of costly defeats last month.

“It’s a fluid situation,” he added. “I know exactly what I need this team to look like to be consistently winning over the course of a 10-month period and what sort of aspects, abilities and skills that group of players have.

“Players are showing those attributes at the moment.

“I’m not egotistical enough to just go, ‘no, I’ve made my mind up and this is happening’.

“While there’s opportunity and players are taking those opportunities, why wouldn’t I believe what I’m seeing right in front of me?

“I spoke a month ago about challenging the players on things we’re going to need going forward. At the moment, they have taken those challenges on and shown that they can do it.

Graham Alexander says it is a fluid situation about player contracts (Image: Thomas Gadd)

“It gives me more confidence and trust that these players can continue that sort of improvement.

“Can we do it for eight games, 10 games, 12 games, 20 games? Over the course of a season, you’re going to have to put those runs together.

“We’re not going to have the amount of games to prove that right now. But certainly, players have got the opportunity to show that they can be part of a successful team for Bradford City next year.”

Alexander, who has Jamie Walker available after suspension, sees the big-match anticipation surrounding the final day as another test of his team’s resolve. They cannot get distracted by what is happening at the other games.

“We’re trying to get everyone to produce their best and I think there’s still more to come from each individual and the team.

“But I can’t complain about how they’ve performed. The wins are the most important thing but the way we’ve gone about it and how we’ve played has been great to watch.

“You learn all the way through the season.

“There’s not so much pressure at the start as there is at the end. Now we’ll see who can go into games like this and still perform.

“If you want to be successful, there are going to be many big games on the way that have a slightly different emotion around them.

“This will be a really good test for how individuals can handle this sort of occasion. I think what they’ve done in the last month shows me that they can but we’re going to have to go and prove it again.”