Bradford City striker Nahki Wells has summed up his team’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Area semi-final loss to Crewe Alexandra earlier this week as “a learning curve”.The Bantams bowed out of the tournament at the semi-final stage for the third straight season after losing 4-1 to their League One opponents at Alexandra Stadium on Tuesday night.City manager Phil Parkinson made eight changes to the squad that were beaten 2-1 by Oxford United three days earlier, with Bermuda international Wells coming on as a 66th minute sub.League Two City took the lead in the 18th minute courtesy of a thumping strike from recall Kyle Reid. But Byron Moore put Crew back on even terms just before half-time when his cross from a tight angle flicked off the boot of City’s Ryan Dickson.Parkinson’s gamble to go with three players at the back in the final stages of the match backfired as Crewe scored three unanswered goals from Max Clayton, Bradden Inman and Chuks Aneke to complete an impressive fightback.City leaked in three goals in the space of 13 minutes as they pushed forward in search of a way back in the cup tie after falling behind to Clayton’s 77th minute diving header.“We threw it away in the end and we have to look at it as a learning curve and move on,” Wells told The Royal Gazette. “We couldn’t get into the final like we wanted, but we tried our best.”Wells, who is City’s leading scorer with 17 goals, had a 90th minute effort from just inside the area saved by Crewe ‘keeper Steve Phillips.The former Dandy Town striker was one of several players Parkinson opted to rest before the Bantams’ crucial league clash with leaders Port Vale tomorrow and next week’s Capital One Cup semi-final second leg tie with Aston Villa.“It’s so much football to play that you have to put things into perspective,” Wells said. “Even though we were 90 minutes away from a Wembley cup final the cup wasn’t our biggest priority and we had to rest certain people.”Wells and his City team-mates will travel to Vale Park keen to claim vital points off the league leaders to keep their promotion hopes alive. The Bantams are currently ninth in the League Two standings with 40 points from 27 matches.“Port Vale are at the top of the table and we are trying to claw back some points to keep ourselves in contention for promotion,” said Wells, who has been linked with a move to a host of Championship clubs. “Hopefully we can get a good result to boost our confidence ahead of the other important game against Aston Villa.”City beat Premier side Villa 3-1 in the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final at Valley Parade earlier this month, with Wells scoring the game’s opening goal and unveiling a moving tribute to late friend Tumaini Steede. The Bantams will now take a two goal cushion to Villa Park for the second leg next on Tuesday.Wells is bidding to become only the third Bermudian behind Shaun Goater and Kyle Lightbourne to play in a Wembley cup final.“That’s definitely something to look forward to,” he said. “To make it to a cup final at Wembley would be great for the club.”