Bradford must grab promotion chance
Bradford City boss Graham Alexander has said his side must relish the pressure of their promotion decider against Fleetwood Town on Saturday.The Bantams go into the final day in third place in League Two and will go up with a victory at Valley Parade.If they fail to win then either Walsall or Notts County could pip them to the remaining automatic promotion spot."When you get to the end of the season and see other teams in these situations you are jealous of it because you want to be involved in them," he told BBC Radio Leeds."I speak to the players about the pressure of playing for Bradford, it is something that attracted you here so you can't shy away from it."I told them after the EFL Trophy semi-final defeat by Birmingham [in February] 'lads, we are destined to play bigger games than this', I really felt that at that particular moment and that is what we have here."Everything they have done this season is down to this, so don't let that opportunity go because you have worked hard for it."It's in our hands and this is where we have to grab it."
'I just don't want to let people down'
Promotion would end City's six-season spell in the bottom tier and also see them go up automatically for the first time since 1999.The West Yorkshire side have enjoyed a strong second half of the season and rose up to the top of the table on 5 April.However, a run of four games without a win has seen them drop back down to third, behind promoted Port Vale and Doncaster.Alexander, who took over at Valley Parade in November 2023, has previously led Fleetwood and Salford to promotion and said he felt a real connection with the club."This job has stretched me more than any other, without a shadow of a doubt, but I think, in turn, that is what makes you grow and improve," he said."As you get more interwoven into a club and understand the history then when you feel like you are making a mark and you are hopefully going to be in their history then you do feel a connection."It hasn't always been rosy but I have always felt the support from the people around me and from the stands."I just don't want to let people down so we have to get the job done."
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