Graham Alexander likens Jack Shepherd’s winner for Bradford to Zinedine Zidane

Posted Sunday, October 20, 2024 by PA

Manager Graham Alexander felt Jack Shepherd’s superb winner for Bradford in the 2-1 victory over Gillingham reminded him of Zinedine Zidane.

The on-loan Barnsley centre-half struck with a volley from the edge of the box as the Bantams came from behind at Valley Parade to claim a third successive win.

Alexander said: “When they see Jack’s name on the scoresheet, they’ll be expecting a header or a close-range finish.

“It was unbelievable technique, how he’s moved his feet to get back to be able to steady himself ready to hit the volley and it’s gone in the perfect place in the top corner.

“It reminded me of a goal scored in a Champions League final many years ago by Zidane. He might be living off that for a while!

“It was a goal worthy of winning any game.”

Bradford had to work hard for a third consecutive win after Jayden Clarke fired the visitors in front.

Neill Byrne headed the equaliser from Jamie Walker’s corner before fellow defender Shepherd crashed the ball home after a half-cleared free-kick.

Alexander had been looking for more success from set-pieces – his team had failed to score from one before today.

He added: “Maybe we took inspiration from Leeds last night. They scored for the first time since February.

“It’s not a gauge of what you are as a team but I think it’s important.

“We’ve gone close a couple of times this season and been unlucky with it. But I thought our delivery and intent was good.

“You just need them to land on you when you make those runs. Byrner’s was a really good finish from close range and Jack’s goal was ridiculous.”

It was a fourth consecutive defeat for Gillingham since going top at the start of the month.

Manager Mark Bonner, who had made six changes, said: “I thought we warranted something.

“It was an evenly-balanced game and we were excellent in the first 25-30 minutes. We started well, scored a great goal and had one or two moments very similar to that.

“We were really pleased with the intent in the early part of the game. We picked a big, physical team to make ourselves as robust as possible.

“It was a good, aggressive English football match. There weren’t many bad tackles but there seemed to be a shedload of yellow cards which was a bit crazy.

“That just lost the rhythm of the game and the first half became more emotional than it needed to be from some erratic decisions.

“We are fuming with ourselves about the goals we conceded. When we’re as big as we are, we shouldn’t fall behind to goals like that.

“It’s usually a strength of ours so we’re really frustrated we haven’t been able to see those moments out.”