Soccer: Jefferies: We'll be back next year

Jim Jefferies said Bradford were quite capable of returning to the Premiership next year after their 2-1 defeat at Everton meant they were consigned to Division One.

Andy Myers gave them an early lead at Goodison Park, but goals from Duncan Ferguson and Niclas Alexandersson put them behind.

Then Robbie Blake had a penalty well saved by Paul Gerrard, before Benito Carbone then spooned another spot-kick over the bar.

Jefferies admitted: "We blew it with those two penalty misses. We aren't the first team to miss penalties and we won't be the last so I'm not going to blame the lads.

"The first penalty save was outstanding. But we blew it then and then when we got the second spot kick we blew it again. If they had gone in it would have been a different result.

"We have tried to keep things going in recent weeks with a couple of wins, and we battled right to the death in this one.

"We had a real go, battling for each other and we showed that we will be capable of challenging next season to win our Premiership place back.

"We knew when I arrived here that there was going to be no quick fix and we were not in a good position when I joined the club mid-season.

"But we must now look ahead, remember the good things and work to improve them in the future. We need more strength in depth, and we intend to bring in a few during the summer."