Graham Alexander's start at Bradford City offers hope to Preston North End

Things look bleak for Preston North End, but Graham Alexander has been here before.

Tuesday’s 4-0 hammering at the hands of Birmingham City felt like a new nadir for Preston. Hope all but extinguished. Relegation practically accepted as a certainty rather than feared as an increasing possibility.

There has been no new manager bounce for Alexander, instead his side have played two games and lost two games, conceding five goals and only managing two shots on target in the process.

With crucial players falling to injury and the squad looking bereft of defensive resilience or attacking flair, it’s understandable why the brief optimism Alexander’s arrival created has been replaced by a heavy cloud of defeatism.

But if there is little sign of hope on the field to get behind, perhaps faith can be found in Alexander’s track record.

Alexander’s start at Bradford City is very similar to his one at PNE

Every Preston fan is well aware of Alexander's achievements at Bradford City. He was hired when they were 16th in League Two and left them at the top of League One in less than three years.

But just like an arrow from a bow, he had to go back before flying forward.

Alexander did not get off to a great start at Valley Parade, either.

He lost his first game at home narrowly by a single goal that came with just over 10 minutes remaining. This was a 2-1 defeat to lowly Barrow.

His next game was a trip to the Midlands, and he saw his team concede four goals through poor defending, two coming within quick succession at the end of the first half.

Sound familiar?

Alexander's side left the field at the break at Notts County to the sound of jeers from 2,300 travelling fans. "They weren’t happy, understandably so," he said.

The manager may have came in with The Bantams in 16th place, but they had dropped to 18th at this point.

Bradford did pull two goals back in the 4-2 defeat, but the similarities with how his life as Preston manager has got underway are striking.

So where does the hope come in? Well, that low point at Bradford turned out to be the launching pad.

After the shocking defeat, Alexander changed his formation - as he's hinted he could do now - and his side hammered Yorkshire rivals Barnsley 5-1 in the EFL Trophy in the following match, sparking a run of six successive victories across all competitions and an undefeated streak of eight.

Just shy of six weeks later, Bradford were in the top half of the table and everyone knows their successful journey from there.

Preston may be in a worse position and may be playing at a much higher level, but Alexander has proven pedigree of turning dire situations around.

In fact, as he points out, the only time he has won his first game in management, against Wrexham, funnily enough, with MK Dons, he was sacked 15 games later. In his four other jobs, he's drawn his first game.

Things may look dark and gloomy at Deepdale, but the start is not necessarily a reflection of what will follow.

“I've definitely took something from these first two games”

"It gives me confidence," Alexander said when asked about his start at Bradford by The Post.

"Because I think it was the only job I took over when I did lose my first game and the only job I took when I won my first game was my shortest job.

"That just proves my point.

“You lose a game and listen, those were two bad games [at Bradford], but I think we won our next six. I think we ended up getting promoted the year after all that.

"They're moments, they're not fatal. That's what we have to understand.”

He continued: "I don't do drama. I don't go into that.

“I try to keep a level head about what's achievable long term, but sometimes it's painful lessons along the way, but as long as they are lessons, and you learn from them, and you take something from them... I definitely took something from those first two games [at Bradford]. I've definitely took something from these first two games.

"It gives me a better idea of what we have to do to create a successful team here. That's our approach. That's our ambition, and it's everyone else's ambition, right?"

Now Alexander just has to ensure the similarities with his last job continue on Saturday, and he gets his first win as Preston boss.