The Fishy - Grimsby Town FC

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Who will go down?







We are Town!
We are Town!

Grimsby v Bradford Preview

By: Alex Green
Date: 26/10/2007

SO two of the more historically successful teams in league two meet on Saturday and let's try to get through this entire preview without mentioning how far Bradford have fallen in the past few years........... Damn.

Home > 2007-2008 Season > Previews > Bradford (h)


The Opposition

Overview

So there I said it yes Bradford fell quicker then Colin Hendry on a car roof and find themselves so far down the league they can't even really take the mickey out of their rivals Leeds Utd, but they get points for trying. Times have changed dramatically since that season in 1996/97 where we both fought over that final place in Division 1. We went on to greater things the next season and Bradford found themselves in the Premiership and becoming the darlings of English football for an all too brief period before plummeting in a way that is never really spoken about compared to the demise of their near neighbours. Former player and Bradford legend Stuart McCall has being given the task of stopping the rot, after managing two games back in 2000 (he lost both). With cheap season tickets McCall can at least call on the biggest crowds in League Two to cheer his team out of the division. Unfortunately though it doesn't seem to be working (laying 19th), a season of adjustment seems to be on the cards for the Bantams oh well least we can renew old acquaintances.

This Season
McCall has done his best to try and bring some cohesion to a squad still rubbing their heads and asking how the hell they got here. (aren't we still doing this as well?) With an influx of players coming and going McCall has tried to streamline the team that carried a hefty wage packet by getting rid of those just not good enough for the Football League. Several have moved on to lower league clubs while others have found themselves dotted all over League Two. McCall will hope to build a squad who will stick around quicker then a name for Valley Parade, with a restricted budget McCall has relied on a large number of loan players to try and fill the holes. Nicky Law, Guylain Ndumbu Nsungu (left), Nathan Joynes, Rhys Evans, Joe Colbeck and Paul Heckingbottom are all on loan at Bradford while the signing of former Swindon midfielder Paul Evans have given Bantams something to cling onto.

Key Player
Paul Evans. Signed from Swindon in the summer the former Forest midfielder has had an immediate impact on proceedings at the Coral Windows Stadium (Oi! No sniggering at the back). Evans's claim to fame is scoring consecutive goals from the halfway line while playing at Brentford and winning his first Wales cap during the incredible feat. Since them days though the legs have got a little slower but the mind a little sharper and Evans can still drive the ball forward as good as any in this division with and also has an array of passing to call upon. The guy can track back and make that important tackle when needed with an eye for the occasional goal and is good at set pieces. Evans is an all round half decent midfielder who could cause Town's creaking defence some problems.

Recent Form

TownBradford
LWycombe(a)0-3
LRochdale(h)1-2
DRotherham(a)1-1 (4-2p)
LPeterborough(a)1-2
LChester(h)1-2
Currently 21st in League Two.
DDarlington(h)0-0
LMorecambe(h)1-2
LMK Dons(a)1-2
LAccrington(a)0-3
LWycombe(h)0-1
Currently 19th in League Two.

Top Scorers

TownBradford
Ciaran Toner4
Paul Bolland3
Ndumbu-Nsungu4

Team News

See Team News

Probable Teams

TownBradford
<
G1Barnes
D5Bennett
D6Fenton
D15Whittle (C)
D3Newey
M7Till
M14Logan
M11Boshell
M10Toner
F23Butler
F12Rankin
G13Rhys Evans
D2Williams
D5Wetherhall (C)
D6Bower
D3Heckingbottom
M7Daley
M21Jones
M13Evans
M8Johnson
F12Conlon
F24Ndumbu-Nsungu

Subs

TownBradford
13Montgomery
5Bennett
M8Bolland
19Jones
20Taylor
1Ricketts
20Phelan
25Medley
16Ainge
22Nix

Head to Head

Grimsby have lost five and drawn one of the last six games against the Bantams, but had a good record against City going back to the 70s. Overall though Bradford have edged fixtures between the two clubs, although at Blundell Park there is almost nothing to choose between the two sides over the year.

P 53 W 18 D 12 L 23 F 65 A 75

Bradford Head-to-Head (67th on The Opposition Ladder)

Last Meeting

Grimsby 1-2 Bradford (Sat 25th January 2003)

In January 2003 Town's hopes of a quick return to Division One were rapidly evaporating and relegation looked more of a possibility. However when Boulding put Town 1-0 up it looked like things were on the up. Not so, Livvo was sent off just before half time for use of the elbow and then Bradford scored two second half goals to spoil our day again.

 Report

Prediction

It’s got to stop isn't it? Probably not.

Grimsby Town 1-1 Bradford City

Reader's POMs

Directions

Click on the link for directions to Blundell Park (left).

Admission Prices

Click on the link for ticket prices to Blundell Park.

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