Bradford 0-0 Coventry

[F!RTHY]

Both teams are in fine form. We haven't conceded in over 600 minutes of football, and haven't lost in our previous 10 league games.

We've been without some key players this season for long periods, and our 'luck' hasn't changed in recent outings whilst losing Hanson, Meredith, Evans and Burke through injury and international duty respectively, but that hasn't effected our results, which is pleasing.

Word is that the utterly fantastic Reece Burke has now gone back to West Ham due injury. Since his absence, Nathan Clarke has equitted himself well. Meredith has been away making his debut for his country, and Greg Leigh has covered the LB role - and has been faultless - scoring twice in successive games; so I expect him to retain his place in the starting XI.

Although Liddle was again, a steady Eddie in midfield against Scunny, I believe we need to be starting with Knott and Evans for the visit of Coventry. I believe they'll play on the counter, and we need the legs in midfield.

GK: Ben Williams

RB: Stephen Darby
CB: Rory McArdle
CB: Nathan Clarke
LB: Greg Leigh

RM: Tony McMahon
CM: Billy Knott
CM: Lee Evans
LM: Kyel Reid

ST: Billy Clarke
ST: Jordan Bowery

Subs:
Joe Cracknell
James Meredith
Cristophe Routis
Mark Marshall
Gary Liddle
Devante Cole

Att: 19,421 (658 Cov)

1-1 - Bowery

Sadly, I predict our run of clean sheets will end, but would be overjoyed with a draw.

Should be a cracker. The atmosphere will be electric.

 

[JoeJoeJoeJoe]

Should be a good game this. Making the short train journey from Leeds for my first visit to Valley Parade and looking forward to it after saturday.

Team:

RCC

Ricketts Martin Turner Stokes

Vincelot Fleck

Kent Murphy JOB

Armstrong

Fancy a 2-1 win either way here.

 

[SkyBlueElephant]

Can't wait for this, two form sides in the division meet. Us unbeaten in 9 league matches and Bradford unbeaten in the last 8.

The home crowd will get behind Bradford and it will be interesting how our young players will deal with an intimidating atmosphere which they probably haven't faced before.

 

[LS Bantam]

No way would I start Knott over Liddle - offers nothing defensively and loses the ball too often, Cov will just turn us around and counter

 

[CCFC_Charlie]

Think we'll lose this, 2-1 Bradford

 

[F!RTHY]

No way would I start Knott over Liddle - offers nothing defensively and loses the ball too often, Cov will just turn us around and counter

I hear ya, but they are a very similar team to Bury in terms of their approach, and PP purposely switched it against them only three weeks ago purely down to that reason.

Whilst Knott can be careless in possession, he also gets stuck in and wins more than his fair share. Whereas Liddle just doesn't seem to offer much at all. A very consistent 7/10 most weeks without really doing much. I see that as a position wasted in that case.

Evans and Knott the way forrad!

 

[JoeJoeJoeJoe]

Quick point, is there a better centre mid partnership than Vincelot and Fleck in the league?

 

[F!RTHY]

Vincelot is a decent player, don't know much about Fleck TBH. We nearly bought Vincelot in 2011, but for some reason he went to Brighton instead.

I don't think it's the best CM partnership in the league, I think if you look at Wigans trio of Max Power, Micheal Jacobs and Dave Perkins, that's probably the best. Also, Walls' Saville, Williams and Abadou (or whatever his name is) is also arguably stronger on paper.

 

[CCFC_Charlie]

Fleck is sensational, a real cut above this level. Gillingham's biggest mistake on Saturday was giving him all the time in the world do what ever he wanted.

 

[F!RTHY]

Fleck may be sensational, but he doesn't score enough goals.

 

[Sky Blue M]

I wish this game was a Saturday

 

[SkyBlueElephant]

Our pace should be able to give the Bradford back 4 problems tomorrow night, especially Mcardle. Wilson destroyed him in that 3-3 draw a few years back and now we have 3 or 4 players with that sort of speed.

 

[F!RTHY]

But not at the same quality, I assume.

 

[JoeJoeJoeJoe]

But not at the same quality, I assume.

Armstrong is better than Wilson was when he was here imo.

 

[PUSBCCFC]

Armstrong is better than Wilson for me too.

 

[SkyBlueElephant]

But not at the same quality, I assume.

Dunno about that, Armstrong is as good I think as Wilson when he was here.

Slightly different qualities, Wilson had strength and power to go with his speed which made him very hard to defend against as big defenders couldn't bully him with the physical side of the game or push him off the ball. Armstrong has the speed but isn't as physically strong or as big as Wilson which means he can get knocked about a bit but he's much better technically and more intelligent than Wilson when he was here.

 

[Evans1883]

In regards to fleck , him and vincelot sit as holding midfielders , probably explains why he doesnt score many .
This game will be won in midfield , bradford play 442 ,and that is a dangerous game to play against a side that play with the 5th man , we will dominate the midfield , as we have done against every side when we play 4231 ..
However i still wont rule bradford out and will still be delighted with a point .

 

[PUSBCCFC]

We aren't as good away, so I feel this will be a very difficult game. However, defensively we looked superb with Turner at the back on Saturday with Ricketts right back.

I feel like we now have a decent enough bench to change things around if things aren't going our way. If our explosive pace fails, we could call upon Fortune/Tudgay for some physicality and Lamerias and Bigi for some creativity.

 

[LS Bantam]

I'd call this a game of strength vs skill, brains vs brawn more so than 'the game will be won or lost in such n such a position'; We've struggled against 5 man midfields for years under PP, but he won't change his 442, he'll just comment on the difficulty of the extra man afterwards.

 

[wiganmudhuts28]

The two teams i have been most impressed with so far...seen both in the flesh 2-2

 

[Cas]

3-1 Coventry. Hi Joe xxx. Behave yourself tonight.

 

[PUSBCCFC]

3-1 to Bradford after seeing our team.

Without Fleck, there is no chance we will win.

 

[LS Bantam]

Our bench is stronger than those starting

 

[PUSBCCFC]

Our bench is stronger than those starting

Same.

 

[SkyBlueElephant]

Our bench is stronger than those starting

Both teams using their squad as we head into the busy Christmas period

 

[SkyBlueElephant]

FT 0-0 pleased with that
Both teams will be in the top 6 at the end of the season I reckon, both sides continue their unbeaten run so think both teams will be pretty pleased with that.

 

[Evans1883]

Very happy with the point, not the best performance but extremely solid throughout ..onwards and upwards PUSB

 

[LS Bantam]

A good draw and fair result - both had good chances to take the points but without success. Cov the best team we've played this season, if they keep the loans the top 2 will be their's to lose, but that's a big if of course. 10 unbeaten now for us, 7 without conceding, bring on Walsall.

 

[SkyBlueElephant]

A good draw and fair result - both had good chances to take the points but without success. Cov the best team we've played this season, if they keep the loans the top 2 will be their's to lose, but that's a big if of course. 10 unbeaten now for us, 7 without conceding, bring on Walsall.

Murphy is here for the season, just got to wait and see on Armstrong and Kent. Bigi will be here for the season if Mowbray wants him as he is unwanted at Newcastle.

Turner will go back in January as he was always intended to be a short term solution.

 

[BCFC]

Happy with that point, best 0-0 I've seen in a while. Coventry look good, their keeper is excellent.