Bradford boss Graham Alexander hails ‘big-game player’ Antoni Sarcevic

Bradford manager Graham Alexander appreciated one moment of quality to seal their 1-0 win over League One promotion rivals Stockport at Valley Parade.

Antoni Sarcevic scored the only goal to move the Bantams above the visitors into fourth place.

Alexander said: “It was a big night for him against his former club and he was captain with Max (Power) being suspended, so I’m delighted for him.

“He’s had so many moments for us and he is a big-game player, he’s a big-moment player and it’s an unbelievable finish with his left foot.

“It was two good teams that have done really well this season and last season – and the season before for Stockport.

“We had a first-hand experience of how good Stockport were early in the season when we had probably the hardest 45 minutes of the season and we managed to turn around at half-time and win the game.

“We knew tonight’s game was going to be just as tough, but I thought we managed it in a completely different way from the start.

“I thought we pressed them really well. The open play opportunities were limited for both teams, showing the prowess of both, the organisation of both teams and the level between them.

“When it comes down to one moment of quality, it comes from your player and your team and we certainly did that tonight.”

There were few incidents in a tight first half with Malik Mothersille having the best chance for Stockport when he shot straight at home goalkeeper Sam Walker.

But Bradford took the lead after 48 minutes as Stockport failed to deal with Lee Evans’ cross and Sarcevic latched on to the loose ball to fire into the roof of the net.

Bradford keeper Sam Walker kept out Ben Osborn’s late effort to clinch their second home win in four days.

Stockport manager Dave Challinor admitted his side did not offer enough attacking threat.

Challinor said: “It felt like a play-off game out there, where nobody wants to take too many risks.

“They took one moment of quality, coupled with an individual mistake, and that ultimately separates the teams.

“We didn’t deserve to win the game, can you say we deserved to lose it? I’m not sure how much what you ‘deserve’ comes into it, and we can’t have any complaints about the result.

“Bradford played the conditions and the pitch really well and we didn’t. They’ve dropped on second balls and got themselves high up the pitch when they needed to but we found that difficult to do and didn’t punish their press by playing through it enough.

“We’ve worked their goalkeeper once in 96 minutes, and that doesn’t meet our standards, or my standards as a manager. We were pretty toothless tonight and I want us to be better than that.”