What a week it has been for us Bantams fans. After the disappointment of last week’s cup tie versus Accrington Stanley where we lost 11-10 on penalties after a drab nil nil affair, Stuart McCall and the team have been twice victorious away from home this week against difficult League One opposition.
Starting with last Saturday then. Playing away at London Road against Peterborough United, who had scored six goal in their opening two matches, I like many other fans expected the worst. How wrong we were. Winning 1-0 thanks to a Jordi Hiwula header in the 11th minute assisted by Tony McMahon with a fantastic cross from the right wing, we looked very strong. With 50% possession away from home against one of the leagues most dangerous sides, McCall’s men put in a real shift and got their just rewards come the end of the match.
Fast forward three nights and we were once again on the road, this time for our clash on Tuesday evening away against Milton Keynes Dons. Arguably the strongest side in League One this year following their relegation from the Championship last season, the Bantams more than matched the hosts. Racing into an early 2-0 lead at Stadium MK thanks to a 12th minute goal from man-of-the-match Josh Cullen and a wonderful strike from Billy Clarke in the 17th minute, we finished the game with the lion’s share of possession and would have made it four clean sheets from four if it wasn’t for a late consolation goal from Ed Upson for the MK Dons.
All in all, two marvellous victories that prove that the current squad under new manager Stuart McCall is more than capable of making a push for the play-offs at a minimum and maybe even a automatic promotion placed finish come May and the end of this season’s campaign.
This Saturday we welcome Coventry City to Valley Parade. A very well-known club in England with a vast history, Coventry City have suffered in recent years due to financial struggles off the field of play. In a way both ourselves and Coventry have suffered the same misfortunes. Both tumbling through the leagues until recently, both are now looking to challenge towards the right end of the table this coming season and to propel themselves back up the English League pyramid.
Yet to win in the League this term, Coventry City have had a frustrating start to their 2016-17 League One campaign. Losing their opening match of the season against Swindon 1-0, their following two games against Bury and Shrewsbury have both ended 0-0, leaving them without a goal in three matches. This coupled with Bradford’s tight defence so far this season, the Sky Blues could easily draw another blank on Saturday afternoon if they do not bring their shooting boots for a fourth match in a row.
On their day Coventry can beat any team in League One though. With the addition of Marvin Sordell up top and players like Bantams old boy, Kyel Reid on the wing who we know can be dangerous, the Sky Blues have a solid squad at this level of English football. Once again City will have to be strong to gain a result for the match on Saturday.
