Bradford City midfielder Callum Connolly has spoken about why he values manager Graham Alexander's direct and honest approach. The comments come after Alexander criticised Connolly's first-half corners as 'rubbish' during Saturday's 2-0 League One win over Peterborough United at Valley Parade.
After the match, Alexander did not hold back in his assessment of the early set-piece delivery. Connolly revealed the manager was vocal during the game itself. "He was shouting on throughout the game in the first half, 'Not good enough!'" said the midfielder. "I understood straight away. He's very hard and very honest. That's what you want as a player." Connolly, who joined from Stockport County this summer, admitted the initial deliveries were poor but focused on the next opportunity, which led to Macaulay Gillesphey's headed goal.
Graham Alexander has moved Connolly back into a central midfield role, the position the player prefers. Alexander, a former defender himself, explained the logic behind the switch. "When we first talked about him joining it was with that position in mind straight away," said Alexander. He believes Connolly's recent spell playing at centre-back has improved his overall game, giving him a defender's awareness while being comfortable in possession. Connolly wears the number 16 shirt for the Bantams and is a key part of the midfield unit listed on the club's squad page.
The immediate focus is a tough away fixture against Sheffield Wednesday at a sold-out Hillsborough this Thursday. The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Connolly is relishing the occasion. "These games are going to test you," he said. "It's a test of your character, how you're going to react to it. You've got to stand up and be counted." This game is a highlight in a busy September schedule for City, which fans can view on the fixtures list.
The win against Peterborough was a positive start at home, lifting spirits after the opening day. Alexander's side currently sits in the upper half of the League One table as they seek consistency. The team's defensive record will be vital against the attacking threat posed by Sheffield Wednesday. Supporters can track the team's progress and compare key statistics on the standings and stats pages throughout the campaign. The next home game after the Wednesday trip is against Portsmouth on September 13th.
