The Voice - Match preview #12: Bradford City vs Gillingham Saturday 19th October 2024 3:00pm

EFL League Two Fixture #12
Saturday 19th October 2024 15:00
Bradford City vs Gillingham
University of Bradford Stadium (AKA Valley Parade)

Record:
Games Won: 17
Games Drawn: 17
Games Lost: 23

Last 5:
22 Apr 2019: Bradford City 1 – 1 Gillingham
28 Feb 2023: Gillingham 0 – 2 Bradford City
22 Apr 2023: Bradford City 2 – 2 Gillingham
16 Dec 2023: Gillingham 0 – 2 Bradford City
06 Apr 2024: Bradford City 1 – 0 Gillingham

Gillingham:
Gillingham’s season got off to a flyer when they hammered Carlisle United 4-1 on the opening day, and they duly followed that result with a run of 3 straight clean sheets and a complementary points haul of 7 from 9. Fast forward to October, however, and we find Gillingham on a 3-game losing streak having scored just once during that skid.

This particularly poor run of form started with a home tie against Grimsby Town, when a sole Keiran Green strike sunk the Gills, before Crewe Alexandra gave them a lesson in finishing courtesy of a Shilow Tracey double. 2-0 that one finished, and though Gillingham took a 49th minute lead against strugglers Accrington Stanley at home, they would be turned over once more – Stanley rallied with goals from Ben Woods and ex-City loanee Dara Costelloe, who celebrated a 90th minute winner that moved Accrington out of the relegation zone.

Despite this extended setback, Gillingham find themselves sat in 5th place, just 2 points behind leaders Port Vale. Goals seems to be the issue. For whatever reason, Gillingham just have not been able to get their attack going despite a succession of managers. The Gills have seen Neil Harris, Stephen Clemence, and now Mark Bonner all give it a go over the past year and a half, but remain a consistently low-scoring side with a solid defence and a competitive – but ultimately disappointing – series of league finishes.

But how bad has the scoring issue been for Gillingham? Last season, The Gills managed just 46 league goals – a perfect goal-per-game – the second lowest in League Two behind only relegated Forest Green Rovers. To Mark Bonner’s credit, his promotion-chasing Gillingham side are sat 13th in the ‘Goals For’ table, a marked improvement, having scored 13 times across 11 league ties. They are joint lowest scorers among the top 8 (rounded off by Bradford City), tied with Barrow, and once again threatening to slip towards midtable mediocrity.

Mark Bonner has to get his side firing on all cylinders, and quickly. The lack of an out-and-out scorer has haunted the club for multiple seasons. Last campaign their top scorer (Conor Mahoney) managed a paltry 7 goals; this season, midfielder Jayden Clarke leads the way with 3 – 2 of which came in an unlikely 3-0 rout of Tranmere Rovers, while the other came in a 2-0 win over Barrow. Behind Jayden, only defender Robbie McKenzie and winger Armani Little have managed more than 1 league goal – though goal-shy striker Elliott Nevitt has also got 2 if you factor in cup competition.

One thing is for sure, if the current poor form and the lack of a cutting edge continues, Galinson does not look the type to rest on his laurels for too long. The pressure is on at Gillingham, despite their lofty league position – which could crash down around them with a fourth straight defeat at Valley Parade. Gillingham could, easily tumble out of the play off picture this coming Saturday, and Graham Alexander’s Bradford City would be all too willing to take their place.

Gillingham 1 – 2 Accrington Stanley


Crewe Alexandra 2 – 0 Gillingham


Bradford City:
Bradford City made it back-to-back wins for the first time this season with a solid 2-0 win at Tranmere Rovers, another side who (like Gillingham) have been struggling to find the back of the net this season. Before that Newport County came to Valley Parade boasting the single worst xG in League Two, the only team worse xG than the Gills in that regard, and City brushed them aside 3-1.

The omens are good, then, for Graham Alexander’s side as they have showed a ruthlessness against low-scoring opposition, but beware: Gillingham are sat in 5th place for a reason, and that is because they boast the second best defence in League Two…

Bradford City’s defence, by comparison, has been shipping exactly a goal-a-game in league competition this season, but have made up for that up front having been buoyed by prolific hitman Andy Cook, the division’s top scorer with 7. He now boasts almost half of City’s total league goal tally of 16, showing how vital he remains to the Bantams’ promotion hopes.

Cook will have to be at his bustling best on Saturday, and having scored 4 goals in 4 games, hopes are high he can maintain his current red hot form. If one factors in a pair of cup goals this season, Cook’s remarkable start becomes even more impressive: 9 goals from just 14 total appearances make him the to mark, but few have been capable of dealing with the 33 year old so far. A Gillingham side prone to playing the ball around at the back might be just what Andy Cook is looking for to continue his superb run!

Ultimately, there has to be something more than just a red hot striker for City to keep progressing, and that hasn’t always been the case for the Bantams in recent years. Now, though, Jamie Walker seems to be the man most likely to make something happen, his high press proving a real nuisance for defenders at this level, and he has been helping himself to both assists and a goal since being restored to the starting XI. If he can remain injury-free, Bradford City will benefit enormously, the talismanic Scot a crucial architect of City’s recent successes.

On the right flank, loanee wing back Jay Benn has been catching the eye of Bradford City fans, and while the back line has been patched up quite significantly lately, Jack Shepherd in particular has stepped up manfully and looks another very solid loan acquisition. City will be hoping players like Neill Byrne can regain fitness as soon as possible, but for now, Shepherd has been looked upon to lead a defence often involving at least one full back in a centre back role. Brad Halliday was the most recent surprise inclusion in a back 3, having lost his wing back position to Jay Benn, but Lewis Richards has also been utilized in that position, and free transfer Paul Huntington has been ready for cameo appearances as well.

All in all, things are not looking too bad for the Bantams in terms of form ahead of what is really a crucial fixture against Gillingham – if the injury crisis eases, Graham Alexander may yet have a decent shot at getting this club promoted (finally…) back to League One. If he can keep the unbeaten home run going, and avoid too many draws while he’s at it, he might yet write his name in the history books of a club desperate to meet their potential at this level.

Tranmere Rovers 0 – 2 Bradford City


Bradford City 3 – 1 Newport County


Prediction:
If any Bradford City fans are still being kept awake at night by the unnecessary chances given away by their team under Mark Hughes, checking out the nature of Ben Woods’ equaliser for Accrington Stanley last weekend will bring back some unwelcome memories! A goal entirely of Gillingham’s own making, it would go a long way to ensuring the Kent sides’ current losing streak continued, with Dara Costelloe grabbing a last minute winner with a tidy finish from range – that Bonner labelled ‘a disgrace’, preferring to lambast lacklustre defending as opposed to the aforementioned goal that came about as a result of Gillingham’s sloppy (but well-intended) possession play.

Moreover, Bonner condemned his side for sitting back once they go a goal up (still sounding familiar?), calling their approach ‘absolute nonsense’ and accusing his players of being ‘happy the game might be done’ at 1-0. Now Bonner’s men travel to Valley Parade, where the long-suffering fanbase was all too familiar with these kinds of narratives after last season, and must be hopeful they are well in the rear view mirror now. Sat 7th in the ‘Home’ league table, 8th in the xG table, and 10th in the xGA table, Bradford City aren’t firing on all cylinders, exactly, but they are looking slightly above average across the board. Can they now push on and develop into a top 7 side?

Well, on that front, a lot will be learned at the conclusion of Saturday’s game. It’s one thing to dispatch teams in the bottom half who are struggling to win football matches, but it’s quite another to look up the table and face a side who will be desperate to make amends for recent results.

Gillingham are sat above Bradford City on merit. Their defence is top drawer, and they generally dominate possession, even if they tend to struggle to convert that dominance into quality chances. There could be prolonged passages where Graham Alexander’s men find themselves without the ball, but that might yet suit City. Gillingham will come chasing a win, and hoping this time to score more than once, particularly if they go in front – but there seems to be a culture of complacency within the Kent club’s ranks when it comes to killing teams off. The way City have been playing, yes, they could very well concede on Saturday, but they are also looking more and more likely to do the business at the other end, particularly with Andy Cook on such good form.

The pick will be a 2-1 win for Bradford City that piles further frustration on Mark Bonner, as Valley Parade at least comes to resemble something akin to a fortress – which Bantams’ fans have been crying out for for what seems like forever!

Final Score:
Bradford City 2 – 1 Gillingham