Graham Alexander delighted with Bradford’s fighting qualities

Bradford manager Graham Alexander was happy with his side’s fighting qualities after they rallied to draw 2-2 with Rotherham.

The Millers were two goals up and looking good for three points before top-of-the-table Bradford responded with goals from Antoni Sarcevic and Alex Pattison.

Bradford had two one-on-one chances in the opening stages and both fell to Will Swan.

He dragged his first effort wide and was denied by Cameron Dawson the second time around with Rotherham living dangerously at the back.

The visitors then fell behind when Rotherham’s attacking line clicked together clinically with Josh Benson and Kion Etete involved in a slick move which led to Denzel Hall curling in from the edge of the box.

Dawson was kept busy for the rest of the half and had to make saves from Alex Pattison’s stinging effort and Ibou Touray’s free-kick.

Half-time substitute Martin Sherif doubled Rotherham’s lead early in the second half as he got on the end of Reece James’s cross after Ar’jany Martha’s incisive run.

Bradford then battled back into the game to earn a draw.

Their first goal was an instinctive one with Sarcevic forcing home Neufville’s cross with his chest.

Pattison spurned a big chance to level when one-on-one but Rotherham did not escape a second time when he was fed by Andy Cook’s clever pass and finished beyond Dawson.

Alexander said: “I think it was a deserved point but we are a little bit disappointed, with the chances that we created, that we didn’t win the game.

“But being two nil down was a difficult scenario for us, but to be fair to the players, they never gave up. They kept going and were roared on by a brilliant crowd and we got two goals in front of that end.

“I think in the last 20 minutes we were the team trying to win the game.

“I am disappointed that we let in two sloppy goals. I don’t think we were as assertive as we should have been in the first part of the game.

“I felt like we should have won but I can see why we didn’t.”

Rotherham manager Matt Hamshaw had mixed emotions.

He said: “I am proud and hugely disappointed.

“I thought we tripped ourselves up and that game should have been a lot more comfortable than it was.

“We showed a bit of naivety in the defending but the lads who have made the mistakes are going to be big players for this club.

“They’re young players but at the same time they have to learn quicker.

“We should have won the game and come off hugely proud.

“I thought our attacking play was outstanding.”