After the 4-0 drubbing of Peterborough at the weekend it’s now time to turn our attention quickly to our next match up on Tuesday night against Southend United. Another pivotal game in our season. Another game that could define our fortunes come the end of the season.
Southend, like Peterborough, are another team right in the mix of the current play-off picture. Despite only achieving promotion via the play-offs from League Two last season, Southend have done well so far this term and currently sit three points better off than us in seventh place. After a shaky start to the campaign Phil Browns men have become a team to be wary of. Based on previous results, the Shrimpers are one of those up-and-down teams, the sort of team that can either hammer or be hammered by their opponents.
Both teams come into this Tuesday night game after very different and contrasting results on Saturday afternoon. Whilst Southend lost 1-0 away to struggling Scunthorpe we put in our best performance of the season. The most convincing win we’ve had in a long while, well since Stamford Bridge some might say! James Hanson was outstanding, bagging two goals in the process whilst Kyel Reid caused havoc down the left hand wing as he enjoyed his best performance since re-joining the Bantams on loan. Josh Cullen impressed on his City debut and the back four picked up another clean sheet, probably the best of the season considering we were playing away from home against the league’s top scorers.
Our opponents are dangerous. A name all Bradford fans will remember is that of Will Atkinsons who now plies his trade for Southend United. The winger is one of the clubs former history makers as he featured in all seven matches of our famous League Cup campaign of 2013 as well as making a total of 54 appearances during two spells with the Bantams. Southends front three could also pose problems for our solid backline. In Tyrone Barnett, Noel Hunt and David Mooney, who have 13 goals between them so far, the opposition have three journeymen strikers, three strikers that have before and will always score goals irregardless of who they play for.
Another difficult match then coming up tomorrow night but another winnable tie. Three more points and we’re fully in the play-off hunt.