Graham Alexander urges Bradford to show personality despite win at Notts County
Defender George Pratt, on loan from Blackburn, scored his first EFL goal early in the second half.
Graham Alexander felt Bradford needed to show more personality as they clinched a 1-0 win at Notts County.
But manager Alexander admitted they needed a half-time pep talk to push on for the victory at Meadow Lane.
He said: “I gave them a bit of advice. I just told them we’re a team that’s won six out of eight games.
“We have to have a bit more personality about ourselves and actually understand that. You’ve got to be confident when you’ve won something like that.
“It was a hotbed moment today. Notts County have started really well and they’re used to winning from last season.
“They’re a highly-organised team with good players and a good manager. The challenge is always going to be tough.
“But if I’m looking at the players and what they’re producing at the time and I know where their level is, I just thought it was higher than it was in the first half.
“It was always going to be a tight game and it certainly proved that. We had to work exceptionally hard to keep a clean sheet and I’m delighted with the three points.”
Notts County had the better of the first half and went close after five minutes when Hindolo Mustapha’s effort was cleared off the line by Callum Connolly.
Bradford improved after the break and took a 52nd-minute lead when Pratt drilled home from 20 yards after Kayden Jackson’s cross was cleared.
Notts County suffered their first defeat in League One since winning promotion.
Head coach Martin Paterson said: “We were good in the first half without creating that golden moment or scoring a goal. Second half, I thought Bradford continued to do what they do well and we didn’t.
“Ultimately, a bit of a scruffy edge-of-the-box shot went in and cost us the game.
“We’ve come back from 1-0 down on five occasions this year. But sometimes people are solely looking at what you do and forgot that Bradford were relentless in what they do and just keep putting you under pressure.
“Bradford were in the play-offs last year, so we know that they are going to react. We just need to improve and adjust to the level better.
“We’ve been in every game. But second half, that’s probably the first time over 45 minutes collectively as a group, myself included, we’ve just dropped our levels.
“We’ll look that in the eye and try to be better. We’re learning, we’ve got young players and we’re not one of biggest-budget teams, we’re probably one of the bottom so we have to get acclimatised to the relentlessness of League One.”