With a forecast for overcast weather on Saturday afternoon coupled with top temperatures of a lowly six degrees, perhaps this Saturday represents one of the worse weekends in the year your team could be playing away in not so sunny Blackpool. Despite that though, over 3,000 away fans, few who will be hardy enough for a dip in the freezing Irish Sea, will be heading west for our League One clash with the relegation-threaten Seasiders as the Bantams look to pick up another valuable three points in their quest for a play-off position come the end of the season.
With the three games last week yielding a marvellous seven points for City, it is evident that the team is in the type of form that has been missing for vast suedes of the season especially prior to the turn of the new year. After the hammering of Peterborough and the walkover of Southend, last Saturdays draw against a struggling Rochdale side at Valley Parade was viewed by many fans as a disappointing result despite the fact we twice came from behind to salvage a draw and showed real character in doing so. It’s time for certain fans to have some patience with this squad. Prior to the match against Peterborough, if someone offered us seven points out of nine for our next three matches, two against other teams vying for a play-off place, I am sure that 99% of us would have taken that. Fortunately the team has worked exceptionally hard throughout the last week and have been rewarded with said total!
Nothing much to report as far as Bradford City team news goes ahead of Saturdays match as no new injuries have occurred this week thankfully. The only change we might see going into the match at Bloomfield Road this Saturday is that of a call up for Josh Cullen at the expense of Billy Knott who has struggled in the first team of late. Steven Davies is also pushing for a start after bagging two goals in his last three outings including that bullet diving header against Rochdale at the weekend.
Blackpool currently sit precariously in 18th spot in the League One table and just one point above the dreaded relegation positions. Their plight is not helped with the additional worry that three of the six teams below them have a game in hand on the Tangerines. The Seasider’s recent form is very similar to that of Rochdale’s before their visit to Valley Parade on Saturday as Blackpool have failed to win in any of their last three matches against fellow strugglers Shrewsbury, Oldham and Swindon but beat high-flying Gillingham 1-0 and secured draws against Walsall and Sheffield United prior to that. Blackpool’s biggest threat is forward Mark Cullen. Since signing over the summer from Luton for £180,000 Cullen has scored seven times in 24 appearances in League One this term, the striker can be a real handful. Mark Cullen made four appearances for the Bantams back in 2011 on loan from Hull City.
A must win match? Probably wouldn’t go as far as saying it is but the type of game we should be winning comfortably if we are to continue our rise up the league table.
And if you’re making the trip, don’t forget your sun cream...
The next Bradford City Special with Tom & Dom on BBC Radio Leeds will be live on the 1st of March from 6-7pm - before the Bantam's fixture Vs. Colchester.
