00:00It's fair to say it has been a very positive start to the new season for Bradford City.
00:05A win on the opening day of the League One campaign at home to Wickham Wanderers by two goals to one.
00:11Before then, a hard-fought draw away against Northampton, which Bradford probably could have snatched all three points.
00:17Before then, going to Championship side Blackburn Rovers in the first round of the Carabao Cup and winning 2-1 away from home.
00:24All of this put together has made for a very positive start to the season for Graeme Alexander's side.
00:31Next, they're back at Valley Parade taking on Luton Town, who of course just two seasons ago were a Premier League club.
00:38They've had quite the spectacular fall from Grace from the top tier down to the third, of course, to back-to-back relegations.
00:47But Bradford City will know that they are still a tough team to play against.
00:52And Graeme Alexander will be pulling no punches in his press conference.
00:57So, let's hear from him now to hear exactly what he thought ahead of the game.
01:03But of course, also reflecting on that game against Blackburn Rovers in midweek,
01:07which was so impressive from a Bradford perspective in terms of taking the scalp of a Championship side.
01:16Normal, I would say. Normal.
01:17We just give a little bit of analysis back, a few clips and a little bit of data in comparison to the meeting we had on Monday about our performance at Northampton compared to last night.
01:30So, just to, you know, sort of reinforce the ideas we wanted to put in place going into last night's game.
01:37But players are in good spirits, but they've been in good spirits for weeks and months, to be honest.
01:42I think there's always a disappointment if we lose a game.
01:46But once we get back to work and get around each other, we bring everyone up, back up to speed, in good mood.
01:55And certainly following a win like that last night, it's going to be positive, but not to the point where it's actually, hold on, lads, we've got another game on Saturday.
02:04I think we've got a good balance in the club and certainly with the players and the staff that we have.
02:12I know we spoke about this after the Wiccan win as to just how much of a team you look when there's been quite a few new faces come into the group over this summer.
02:21But just to further that point, I guess, from last night, I mean, I don't know whether surprise is the right word,
02:27but what have you made to how well they've gelled as a group, given that there's been some new faces come in and they've integrated so quickly?
02:34Yeah, I think I wouldn't say surprise. I've been pleased. I've been happy with it.
02:38I think because, you know, until you work, you know, when you're signing players, you know, you have an idea of what they're going to give you on the pitch.
02:46But to actually understand how they are, how receptive they are to information,
02:51how intelligent they are taking ideas from the training pitch into games and the pressure and all that sort of thing,
02:57that's a process we all go through as managers. We learn about our players day in, day out.
03:02And I think what we've shown, and it's a real small sample, so we can't get carried away.
03:07But in the three games, we've, or the first game, the Wickham game, I thought the performance was really strong,
03:13really good in loads of aspects, considering it was the first game for those six or seven debutants for us.
03:22But last night was good because we didn't perform at the same level against Northampton in our own eyes.
03:29And we covered a few things on Monday. And to be fair, the players immediately put it into practice last night.
03:34So that was the feedback we gave them this morning, because I think it's, progress is a big motivator.
03:41I mean, you know, if you're making small steps forward, I think it encourages more learning,
03:46more hard work on the training pitch. And that's what we want to do, because we are not a finished article.
03:51There is room for improvement, but I think the strides we've made with,
03:55it's only half of the squad that are new, but that's a fairly sized chunk.
04:01It's been really rewarding and really encouraging for what we can eventually become.
04:07I know it's only three games into the season, and it is a long, old season.
04:11But obviously, Brad Halliday didn't play last night, Alex Patterson as well.
04:16Just how do you manage that situation? Obviously, two players that were so consistent when available for you last season,
04:22obviously not had the same amount of game time in this early stage.
04:25Yeah, I think it's just, look, I think the players that work with me over a certain amount of time
04:33understand that I'm always fair, I believe, but I'm always team first.
04:39You know, it's never personal. I never put others in front of anyone else.
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