The Opposition: Bradford City (A)

The Opposition: Bradford City (A)
One to watch, form, previous meetings and more!

March 11th 2024FGR Media

A Tuesday night trip to West Yorkshire awaits for Rovers as we make the journey to Valley Parade to take on Bradford City in another League Two clash.

Ahead of the midweek clash in Bradford, here's everything you need to know about the Bantams.

IN THE DUGOUT

With just six defeats in his first 24 matches, it's been a good start to life at Valley Parade for Graham Alexander. Two of those losses came in his first two matches, so it's just four defeats in 22 games for the 52-year-old.

The Bantams sit 12th in League Two, but the table is somewhat deceptive, with Bradford having two games in hand on Gillingham, who sit in the final play-off spot. Two wins from those matches would see them leapfrog the Gills.

Alexander has made Bradford solid defensively. They have only conceded 21 goals in his 24 games in charge, while their defensive record is better than three of the current top six.

He has won promotion from the fourth tier before, leading Fleetwood Town into League One for the first time in the 2014-15 campaign. The former Scotland international actually started the season in charge of MK Dons, taking four wins from his first five matches, although he was dismissed in October after eight matches without a victory.

Alexander enjoyed a 20-year long career as a playing, turning out for the likes of Luton Town, Preston North End and Burnley, where has he was actually brought in by our gaffer Steve Cotterill.

JANUARY BUSINESS

Arguably the biggest story of Bradford's transfer window was the return of Jake Young. The former Forest Green forward was loaned out to Swindon at the start of the season and he fired in 16 goals in half a campaign for the Robins.

The Bantams recalled him in January and has played four games since his return.

Another returnee is winger Tyreik Wright, who joined Alexander's side on loan from Plymouth Argyle. Wright impressed when on loan at the Bantams at start of last season, with six goal contributions in 15 appearances. The pacey wideman has struggled for consistent minutes in the Championship with Argyle, allowing Bradford to swoop in again.

Goalkeeper Harry Lewis joined Carlisle United on for an undisclosed fee, so the Bantams replaced him with Charlton Athletic shot-stopper Sam Walker, who has kept five clean sheets in his last six appearances.

Forward Calum Kavanagh has been prolific in the Premier League 2 for Middlesbrough with five goals in eight games - and the 20-year-old has already scored twice for the Bantams.

ONE TO WATCH

Andy Cook has hit double figures for the third consecutive season in League Two. No player has scored more since the start of the 2020-21 campaign than Cook, with an outstanding 65 goals. The next highest scorer is Mansfield's Davis Keillor-Dunn with 48.

Cook is physically strong and dominant in the air. He won the League Two golden boot last season (28), with four goals in his last four games helping the Bantams claim a play-off spot. The striker has scored five times in his last four matches against Forest Green.