GRAHAM Alexander emphatically dismissed that mid-table Swindon have little to play for, the Bantams boss insisting many of their squad will be playing for their future.
League Two leaders City have not won on the road since Michael Mellon’s last-gasp winner at Salford on March 1, so could do with an easy ride on their travels at some point, but Alexander does not expect to get that at the County Ground this lunchtime.
Asked whether Ian Holloway’s side would be relaxed heading into today’s game, with the pressure all on the visitors, Alexander told the T&A: “I think that’s irrelevant.
“Look at the character of the manager, I don’t think he’s going to be taking it easy, and he won’t allow his players to either.
“There are some good players there and if we need any reminder of that, we’ve seen some of our results of late against teams in a similar position to them.
“At this stage of the season, if you’re involved at one end of the table or the other, there’s pressure to win games.
“But if you’re in the middle of the table like Swindon, there’s pressure to win contracts.
“It’s the one constant in football, that pressure, it never goes away from anybody, so we’ll never underestimate any opponent in any game while I’m the manager here.”
Alexander will need to get selection right this lunchtime and he has candidly admitted to the T&A he may have made mistakes over recent weeks.
He said: “I think I made a mistake after the win over Colchester by selecting the same side to face Accrington.
“I felt it would be a different game completely, but I kept with the team off the back of the performance the week before.
“But I knew a couple of players might have been better suited to the Accrington game, where we didn’t play well as an attacking force.
“That’s part of my learning, but all of the decisions I make are difficult, because I’ve got more than 11 good players and I trust them all.
“Just playing well the week before doesn’t guarantee you a spot in the next game, it’s about how you train in between, whether you’re right for that opponent, and whether you’ve kept the right mindset.
“But these players have shown me that any disappointment and frustration they have, they put it to one side and get behind their team-mates.
“I took Rom (Crichlow) and George (Lapslie) off at half-time last weekend against Crewe, and I know how gutting that can be for an individual.
“Yet when I turned round to talk to Chris (Lucketti) 10 minutes into the second half, and they were both already sat on the bench supporting the team.
“I loved that, it was class, and I saw it again with Tyreik Wright banging the chairs excitedly in the dugout after our second goal, even though he’s disappointed to have been left out.
“We’re in the position we’re in because of that brotherhood the players have built, that’s the source of our strength.”
The Valley Parade crowd have also been a source of strength, with huge crowds cheering City to home wins over Colchester and Crewe in the last three weeks.
But the Bantams have not been able to replicate that in front of massive away followings of late.
Alexander reflected: “It’s something we can use to inspire us and the players are learning to embrace that.
“It’s really important to us, but the environment at Valley Parade will always be similar, but it’s different when you go away from home each time, and you’ll face different challenges.
“We have to break it down to our team against theirs where we can, as we can’t really focus on things we can’t control.
“We have to focus on our performance and how we can be better than our opponent, while understanding our supporters will always be there backing us.
“Even when we haven’t played as well this season, the support for the team generally all season has been really strong.
“It’s a source of inspiration for us, but ultimately we have to do our own work on the field.”
