Bradford 'taking context' from poor run - Alexander

Bradford City have seen the quality at the top of League One over the past week, according to head coach Graham Alexander.

The Bantams 3-0 loss at second-placed Lincoln City on Tuesday night made it three consecutive defeats following reverses to play-off chasing Huddersfield and leaders Cardiff City.

Bradford are fifth in the table after securing promotion in the final seconds of last season and Alexander is trying to put some perspective on their recent poor run.

"We've seen the genuine quality at the top end of League One and I'm delighted we've been a part of that all season and still are," he told BBC Radio Leeds.

"You also have to take context in the three teams we've just played and understand that we're not here through luck, the two teams we've just played [before Lincoln], everybody knows the disparity in what they can do.

"And we've just played a team [Lincoln] who have been at this level for six-and-a half-years and have built for six-and-a-half-years to be two or three places above us and we've been here five minutes."

Two of Bradford's top scorers in Will Swan and Antoni Sarcevic have missed the past two defeats through injury and Alexander says that has not helped their cause.

"Any team missing two of their top goalscorers, it's going to affect them," he added.

"No club at this level, the level below, the level above have got like-for-like in two or three positions, it doesn't happen so when clubs miss players who have played a big part so far you have to find a way through that."

City host struggling Doncaster Rovers on Saturday (12:30 GMT) with the head coach calling for calm over their current position.

"Ultimately there were four new clubs at this level and we're the only ones anywhere near competing at the top end of the table which I reminded the players of before the game," said Alexander.

"The strides we've made this season don't get washed away by two bad results [before tonight] and the same still stands for me.

"We're 27 games in. I think every single person would have taken fifth in the table but that's gone now, we've still got to understand we are the team that got there and we've got loads of opportunities in front of us to get better."