Gary Bowyer pleased with attitude shown by Bradford’s players

Posted Friday, December 27, 2019 by PA

Bradford missed a golden opportunity to go away with three points from their goalless clash with Carlisle but for Bantams boss Gary Bowyer it was another good effort from his illness-ravaged team.

With the squad already suffering from a bug which has affected several players, Bowyer had the added problem of having to replace Harry Pritchard after he was injured in the warm-up.

However, Bowyer said: “Whoever comes into the side they are fighting for the shirt and I can’t praise the attitude enough.

“We have made progress and today we had about 60 per cent of the possession and it’s just that final little bit.

“People are coughing and spluttering in the dressing room. James Vaughan went on for the last 10 minutes and could hardly breathe. But whoever is playing on the day they give their all.

“We came with a plan to get all three points and started well. Chris Taylor hit the post and that is probably where we are at the moment. A little bit of luck there and the boys would be up and running, but the application from them is terrific.”

Late on, Paudie O’Connor missed a gilt-edged opportunity from seven yards out. With the goal gaping, he somehow contrived to lift his shot over the bar.

“We were waiting for it to hit the back of the net,” confessed Bowyer.

The Bantams at least extended their unbeaten run to five games against a Carlisle side with just one league win since the end of September.

Carlisle head coach Chris Beech looks set to add to his stretched squad in the New Year and said: “I am 99 per cent down the road to signing a new player.

“Everyone at the club is doing their best to put us in a good position on February 2.

“It’s a third home game where we have not conceded a goal so I am happy with that aspect.”

Beech had called for a response from his players after their 3-0 defeat at Colchester at the weekend and he added: “It was a good reaction because this could have been a difficult day.

“Looking at the chances I thought we could have scored the winning goal. The players gave everything but we need the midfield to break the line and take shots.”

Beech has had his players doing extra shooting practice and he said: “It will come.

“You might say we are not getting the rub of the green, but I don’t believe in luck, I believe in good habits. The more we practice good habits the nearer we will get to the hot spot.”