‘Didn’t feel good’: Bradford City boss Graham Alexander explains £1.25m Portsmouth loanee’s shock absence

Graham Alexander insists Hayden Matthews’ Bradford City absence during Saturday’s triumph over Notts County was for selection reasons.

And the Bradford City boss has detailed the ‘difficult decision’ he had to make to leave the Pompey loanee out, despite a strong start to his Valley Parade career.

The Aussie was surprisingly omitted from the Bantams’ 20-man squad for their League One success against Notts County, having started Tuesday’s Carabao Cup triumph over Leyton Orient.

Matthews was one of 10 changes from the midweek victory and was one of five players left out of the match-day side completely.

Since his loan switch from Fratton Park, the centre-back has featured just once for Bradford, who now sit third in the standings after a brilliant start to the campaign.

Bradford boss explains Pompey loanee’s surprise absence

And Alexander has put the Pompey loanee’s absence down to strong competition amongst his fully-fit squad, with the head coach detailing the tough calls he had to make this week.

Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds, the Bantams boss said: ‘It’s three points but it’s building confidence, using the squad.

‘Difficult decisions today, leaving players out of the matchday squad who played on Tuesday. But unfortunately that’s the numbers.

‘This was going to be a test of our resolve as a squad and our togetherness and the early signs are really good.

‘I was quite clear in my head that the players who played the previous Saturday hadn’t done anything wrong, obviously we won the game. It was more the opportunity for the lads on Tuesday.

‘It wasn’t a judgement on the previous performance so it was going to be similar to the previous team, but the bench was a real conundrum.

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‘It took me a long time, I changed it a few times in my head.

‘I don’t think anyone deserved more rewards than any other but it was actually what the challenge is going to be today, who have we got concerns over niggles wise and just trying to cover as many bases as possible.

‘That’s why when players can play more positions they become more useful and they have more opportunities.

‘It was extremely tough today (to pick the team). It didn’t feel good, I’ll be honest, it didn’t feel good when you had to let five lads know they weren’t going to be in the squad today.

‘Hopefully they’ll be patient with us, understand the situation and come in next week and be ready to work.’

Pompey, of course, sanctioned a temporary exit for the £1.25m man before the close of the summer window as John Mousinho looked to trim his backline.

Matthews penned a season-long loan deal at Valley Parade and joined fellow centre-backs Josh Knight and Ibane Bowat in making the drop to League One in the window.

The Aussie has featured 16 times for the Blues since his January 2025 arrival and still has three years remaining on his current Fratton Park terms.

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