UNDERSTANDABLY, Luca Vialli laid greater accent on the revival than the need for it after Saturday's defeat at the Bradford and Bingley Stadium.

"We came alive in the last 35 minutes where we got the upper hand and played very well, and with great spirit and desire to make a fantastic comeback. I felt the players felt they had let themselves down beforehand and they really tried to make up for it," he said.

"I thought we were unlucky and we really deserved to get the equaliser because it had been a very, very good 35 minutes."

When asked by the national press why he had not made his substitiutions earlier, "as they had seemed to change things", Vialli said: "No, that was kind of a risky line-up the way in which we played in the last 35 minutes. I thought more than that, it was down to the spirit and desire of the players to make things happen.

"So it was not down to the changes, but the players for what they did on the pitch. They gave it a real go, and to be 4-1 down was a bit too much to take.

"Obviously we should have played the same way from the kick off, but sometimes it takes a kick in the arse before you start actually performing.

"It is a bit frustrating, not just for me, but the players themselves, because they realise what sort of potential they have in their team and in the squad, and it is just a matter of getting it out all the time.

"We gave a goal away, a very poor goal, at the beginning of the game. We knew the beginning was vital for us because Bradford were coming to this game after five successive defeats, and our intention was to start very brightly and try to destroy the link between their supporters and players. That would have put more pressure on them.

"Instead, we conceded a goal, and so they got a lot of enthuisiasm whereas we went really quiet. We had a couple of chances, but then, for the second half, it was imperative for us to score the first goal, but again we conceded another avoidable goal.

"Then we got one, but then they scored the fourth, so we made it really difficult for ourselves, until we started to play at our best.

"I feel really sorry for the players because the way we played the last 35 minutes, they deserved to get a point.

"In the first half, Bradford played better but both teams had chances.

"They took them, we didn't, and, in the end, this is what makes the difference."

November 6, 2001 10:30