Graham Alexander conceded “cheap moments” have undermined Bradford City following his side’s 2-1 defeat to Burton Albion.
The Bantams have struggled to emulate their home form away from West Yorkshire and stumbled again at the Pirelli Stadium.
Alex Hartridge and Tyrese Shade put the Brewers, led by former Bantams manager Gary Bowyer, two goals to the good.
Tyreik Wright struck back in the dying embers but it proved to be a mere consolation for the League One promotion hopefuls.
Graham Alexander's Bradford City were beaten by Burton Albion.placeholder image
Graham Alexander's Bradford City were beaten by Burton Albion. | George Wood/Getty Images
Graham Alexander’s verdict
Alexander said: “It’s a hugely disappointing result for us. We were the dominant team for the first 40 minutes and should have been two up.
“We defended really well against the pressure that they try and create but we give a cheap goal away as a result of maybe getting frustrated at not scoring.
“It is those cheap moments that has undermined our good play in the last four or five games.
“You can look at the data from the Reading, Wigan and Mansfield games as well as today. We have been the dominant team, more shots, better xG but we haven’t been clinical enough and too loose to allow the opposition to go and grab a goal and then do what they have to do to make it even more difficult.”
Gary Bowyer’s view
Bowyer, meanwhile, said: “We asked them to go out there and be great. To go out and put in a performance like that today, I take my hat off to them.
“It’s an unbelievable effort against a team who are right up there. I was really pleased with how we weathered the early storm from them. We showed a lot of maturity, for a young group, to come through that and to then go and grab the goal.
Gary Bowyer got one over on his former club Bradford City.placeholder image
Gary Bowyer got one over on his former club Bradford City. | Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
“We said at half-time it was about their heart, their bravery and their brains and everybody put an unbelievable shift in.
“I am delighted for Alex. It’s a similar goal to his one at Wimbledon and it comes from a great delivery from George Evans.”