This weekend sees the Bantams make the short journey to Bolton for their massive League One clash with the Wanderers. With both sides sitting in the top four as it stands, this weekend's clash gives us the chance to fully challenge ourselves against one of the best teams in the league as well as giving us a chance to greet some old, familiar faces. Backed by over 4,300 travelling City fans, Saturday's match is sure to be a tasty affair and one to remember irregardless of the end result.
Going into this match the Bantams still sit undefeated during this league campaign, played 8, won 3, drawn 5 and lost 0 and even though we've drawn our last three matches now, all 1-1 as well, we're playing some exciting, entertaining football under current boss Stuart McCall. Bolton sit just a single point above us in League One at this moment in time due to the impressive start they've made to their own league campaign. However even if ten plus points separated both teams in the league at this point in the season this weekend's match would still take on the huge significance it already has due the events that unfolded during summer. This isn't just a battle for supremacy within the ninety minutes on Saturday afternoon but rather a chance for us to show former boss Phil Parkinson just what he's missing, both on and off the field, after his rather sudden exit from Valley Parade in the summer.
Obviously at first the news of his departure was worrying, two new, overseas owners come in and as soon as they do one of the most successful managers in our history leaves without much reason however over time wounds heal and right now our club is only moving in the right direction. If we're being honest there's not much more we could ask for currently as fans of Bradford City. We have a very talented group of players at our disposal, a City legend is managing the club in the right manner and we have two owners who are willing to invest in the club and understand how to run the club properly, they want to keep the clubs best interests at heart unlike some modern-day football chairmen. The rest is history as they say and the success of this club is now based on how we function going forward into the future and not based on what part certain people played in the past. Bradford City right now is a sleeping giant in the English football league pyramid and under the guidance of Stefan Rupp and Edin Rahic we are to roar loudly once more in the coming years, I'm sure of it.
So what about on the field on Saturday? Well going into this weekend's match up with Bolton we have a full strength squad for the first time this season. Tony McMahon is fully fit after missing the last few matches whilst centre back and fan favourite Rory McArdle could be within contention of starting for the first time this season. I'd suggest that that seems unlikely due to the recent fantastic form of Nathaniel Knight-Percival and Romain Vincelot however, who have put in great performances after both joining the Bantams in the summer months. Looking at it it's likely that McCall will go with largely the same side that last drew 1-1 at home to Bristol Rovers. With options in every position though on the pitch, any changes won't be too surprising come kick-off on Saturday.
As for Bolton they too have no new injury concerns going into the match on Saturday and have been performing well of late if you overlook last weekend's 1-0 loss Walsall whom were down to ten-men after 75 minutes of the match. Forward Gary Madine has already bagged himself three goals in League One this term whilst midfielder Jay Spearing was voted 'Player of the month' for August thanks to some stand out performances in the centre out the park. Former Bradford striker Jamie Proctor is likely to feature once again for Bolton as well but has yet to really start to get going this term with only a single goal to his name thus far.
For me then Phil Parkinson obviously deserves applause when walking out of the tunnel at the Macron Stadium on Saturday from the City faithful to voice my opinion. At the end of the day he led this club to some fantastic results that are simply unforgettable to lower league fans like me and you like that famous Chelsea win and the list goes on and even though his departure seemed a bit suspect and sour, his place is guaranteed in City's hall of fame and folklore. That's where it ends though for me; from then on it's all about supporting Stuart McCall and the lads. As Stephen Darby stated in the T&A this week, "we need to let our football do the talking."
NEW PODCAST
Episode #118 of Bantams Banter recorded during the game Vs. Bristol Rovers is OUT NOW on iTunes and on the podcasts page of this website!
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