Another damaging defeat mounts pressure on the already under fire Graham Alexander

Yesterday at 03:26 PM

By Adam Raj

Well that wasn't very Christmassy was it?  Bradford City's final game before the festive period was a truly dismal afternoon, in what has left manager Graham Alexander under real pressure.

Then again, we were four goals down at half time on our last visit to Meadow Lane. So small improvements, I guess.

Strangely, it was a decent enough start from City, by our standards anyway. There was a focus on trying to play a little bit of football with some decent passing moves – Bobby Pointon and the returning Antoni Sarcevic busy. It wasn't anything amazing by any means but it at least resembled football, albeit Alex Bass in the home goal remained untested.

However, it was all downhill from there. In fact, it fell off a cliff.

28 minutes on the clock, Paul Huntington received the short goal kick and attempted a low drive forward but his pass was straight to a black and white shirt which fed the ever impressive Dan Crowley. He nudged the ball past Jack Shepherd and squared for Alassana Jatta to tap home.

Three minutes later and the hosts doubled their lead. David McGoldrick with a classy nutmeg on the bewildered Richie Smallwood on halfway set up the move which the Irishman finished. McGoldrick fed Crowley whose deep cross was nodded down by Jatta and McGoldrick slammed home the half volley. Smallwood and Huntington ball watching.

And no longer than 60 seconds later it was three. Straight from kick off County won back possession. Crowley was once again too clever for Smallwood and then McGoldrick strolled past Sarcevic's weak attempt at a challenge. Jatta then bullied his way past Shepherd before shooting tamely past Sam Walker who had badly misjudged the effort.

The toxicity that has threatened to bubble over came to a head. There were chants against Stefan Rupp and Ryan Sparks and deafening boos at half time. Fans arguing amongst one another and people heading for the exit door after only half an hour. It's a mess.

Three should've been four when Sam Austin produced a decent block from Walker from a back post volley.

And three definitely should've been four early in the second half when Jatta met Nick Tsaroulla's cross which was initially saved by Walker but the big striker somehow couldn't bundle the ball over the line from a yard out.

City were so far off it. But they have been all season. And the season before that. There's a common theme here.

Graham Alexander can point to a mad few minutes all he likes but this sort of collapse is symptomatic of his Bradford City team. Another heavy defeat to add to a substantial list of them under his reign. We have suffered some proper beatings with Alexander at the helm.

"We're talking about a five minute period" says Alexander. Okay, let's analyse the other 85 minutes. The opposition created several guilt edged chances and we didn't create one.

Arguably the most concerning aspect is Notts, whilst good, were clearly playing nowhere near their best and still swept City aside with ease. When they wanted to turn it up, they did and it was so very easy for them.

City' press was so loose and disorganised. Notts play out from every goal kick and do it very well. They're constantly rotating and moving into space – they look a properly coached side. Contrast to the Bantams who take a short goal kick (sometimes) and then have the centre half lump it 50 yards up the pitch, despite the goalkeeper being perfectly capable of doing the same thing.

It's so half hearted, designed to look like we've got some sort of plan when in reality it's just kick and hope. There's a very clear and alarmingly obvious gap in quality not only on the pitch, but also in the dugout.

Alexander doesn't know what he wants this side to be. He has tried to make us a jack of all trades when in reality he's made us a master of none. One week we're a long ball side, the next we’re trying to play football against the best footballing side in the division. One week we're attempting a high press, the next we're wasting time from the first whistle and parking the bus at Colchester.

Not to excuse the players at all, but is it any wonder they play like they don't have a clue?

One transfer window doesn't fix this. We're way off. We need lots more than the "couple" that Alexander said he wanted. This squad is a mess and nowhere near good enough to mount a promotion push. But I also do not trust nor want him to be afforded the opportunity to influence any more signings. Those that he has brought in have hardly been a success. His time is up.

However, I am very consciously aware that Alexander's dismissal will not solve our problems. Just like sacking Mark Hughes didn't. The fundamental issues at this club lie with the two men at the top of the tree. Until that is addressed, nothing will change.

However, that in no way should represent a reason for Alexander to remain in post. If the only justification for keeping him is "we can't keep sacking managers" as opposed to any actual progression shown by him or the team then that speaks volumes. My response? We can't keep a failing manager just because he isn't the biggest problem at the club. I've seen us take one too many heavy beatings where the opposition have been a class above. That can't be allowed to continue.