Graham Alexander praised a “brilliant” Bradford performance as they secured a comfortable 3-1 win over fellow play-off chasers Grimsby.
A fourth straight home win – the first time that has been achieved since 2021 – made it 10 points out of 12 for the Yorkshire side since Christmas.
Goals from Lewis Richards, Richie Smallwood and Alex Pattison secured victory for Bradford, who were missing injured striker Andy Cook with a knee injury.
Alexander said: “I thought the team were excellent. We started in really aggressive fashion and were pressing all over the pitch.
“There was a good structure about ourselves and we were really incisive in those attacking moments.
“It took us 43 minutes to get that opening goal but it was really well worked.
“We had a strong end product today and to get that goal was rewarding for the players. We wanted to keep our foot on the floor, which we did with the penalty.
“We just opened that door a little bit for them when they scored their corner. It’s a great header from the lad but it just brought the game back into the balance a little bit.
“But the players stepped up to their credit and took the game by the scruff of the neck again. We needed that third goal to give us that bit of composure and it was a brilliant performance all round.”
Cook, who has scored 15 in all competitions, had a scan yesterday and Bradford are waiting on the results.
Grimsby keeper Jordan Wright had pulled off several good saves before Richards scored right on half-time from Aden Baldwin’s cross – the wing-back’s second goal in as many games.
Smallwood doubled Bradford’s lead with a penalty after Cameron McJannet brought down Antoni Sarcevic.
McJannet made amends by heading home Denver Hume’s corner to reduce the deficit three minutes later. But Pattison’s solo run and shot that flew in off the post made sure of Bradford’s victory.
Grimsby manager David Artell said: “The better team won. It was a game too much for a few of our lads.
“We had one or two crucial injuries that impacted that. We felt as though we were a bit short in certain areas and we didn’t do ourselves justice.
“When you add all that in, it ends up in a performance where you get what you deserve.
“Jordan made a couple of good saves but the lads around him should do better. We didn’t do much right.
“We contrived to lose a game we should have won comfortably at Accrington. But today we deserved to get beaten and I’ll say it as it is.
“The timing of the first two goals was criminal. We conceded just before half-time and just after and that five minutes kills us.”
