Match Thread AFC Wimbledon vs Bradford City Saturday 14th January @ 3:00pm - the voice

League Two Fixture #25

Saturday 14th January 2023 15:00
AFC Wimbledon (13th) vs Bradford City (5th)
Plough Lane (AKA Cherry Red Records Stadium)

Most Recent Results:

1: Leyton Orient 3 – 0 Bradford City
2: Carlisle United 1 – 0 Bradford City
3: Bradford City 1 – 0 Harrogate Town
4: Bradford City 3 – 2 Salford City
5: Bradford City 1 – 2 Rochdale

Form: LWWLL

1: Swindon Town 0 – 0 AFC Wimbledon
2: AFC Wimbledon 1 – 1 Newport County
3: Colchester United 1 – 2 AFC Wimbledon
4: Sutton United 2 – 1 AFC Wimbledon
5: Crewe Alexandra 0 – 0 AFC Wimbledon

Form: DLWDD

Head-to-Head Results:

Head-to-Head Form: DDWLL

23 Dec 2017: AFC Wimbledon 2 – 1 Bradford City
27 Jan 2018: Bradford City 0 – 4 AFC Wimbledon
02 Oct 2018: AFC Wimbledon 0 – 1 Bradford City
04 May 2019: Bradford City 0 – 0 AFC Wimbledon
24 Sep 2022: Bradford City 2 – 2 AFC Wimbledon

Head-to-Head Results (All Time):

Won: 5
Drawn: 2
Lost: 5

Biggest Margin of Victory:

25 Aug 2012: Bradford City 5 – 1 AFC Wimbledon
27 Jan 2018: Bradford City 0 – 4 AFC Wimbledon

Spoiler: Historic Results Analysis

The two clubs remain level in terms of historic results after a draw in September – which needed a last gasp equaliser from Vadaine Oliver to salvage a point at home for The Bantams. Banks had given Bradford City the lead in just the 4th minute, only for Harry Pell and Ethan Chislett to net second half goals that looked to have given the Londoners a surprise victory – but it wasn't to be.

That was only the second draw the two clubs have played out, and they have come consecutively in the two most recent meetings. Previously, this tie has been an erratic one, with lots of goals enjoyed by both sets of fans. In 12 games, there have 40 goals scored, with both sides sharing the spoils in terms of biggest margin of victory.

Will someone get their noses in front at the Cherry Red Records Stadium? And will we see another goal fest? One thing's for sure: this has not been a boring fixture!

AFC Wimbledon 2022/23:
Johnnie Jackson's men have rallied with just 2 defeats in 18 games

5 of AFC Wimbledon's last 6 games have all taken place away from home, potentially making the Cherry Red Records Stadium at Plow Lane somewhat unfamiliar territory for the home side!

Their only home game since the first week of December saw AFC Wimbledon play out a 1-1 draw against Newport County on Boxing Day, while all 3 fixtures since have taken place away from home.

Since that draw with Newport County, AFC Wimbledon have won 1, drawn 1, and lost 1 – making their form somewhat redundant when trying to figure out what to expect from the Dons.

Josh Davison and Ethan Chislett have both scored 2 goals a piece, accounting for all 4 goals scored in their last 4 games, while 6'9 centre forward Kyle Hudlin had been the man in form in cup competitions prior to a red card against Newport County (that has since been rescinded), and a recall from parent club Huddersfield Town.

AFC Wimbledon have also had to absorb the losses of Paris Maghoma and defender Ryley Towler to recalls recently, opening the door for Courtney Senior and Lee Brown to return to the starting line up.

Worse could be yet to come for the Dons, however, as top scorer Ayoub Assal, who has netted 10 goals and recorded 5 assists in all competitions this season, is expected to be the target of interest in the January window. While AFC Wimbledon will be keen to extract real value for the 20 year old of Moroccan descent, a strong offer will likely be too tempting to turn down.

Assal should be back for AFC Wimbledon this weekend having missed the first two games of the New Year due to illness, and he could line up alongside top league goalscorer Josh Davison (8) and Ethan Chislett (7) to add more firepower to an AFC Wimbledon line up that has scored just 2 less than Bradford City, a team 8 places (but only 4 points) above them in the League Two table.

Bradford City 2022/23:
Bradford City frustrate with more inconsistent performances

After a run of 3 straight away defeats in all competitions, Bradford City were hoping to make it 3 straight home victories against Rochdale on Tuesday night. Alas, it was not to be, and a first half opener from Abo Eisa was cancelled out by a controversial penalty decision from referee Paul Howard. Devante Rodney saw the penalty attempt itself saved, only for veteran striker Ian Henderson to follow up on the rebound. Henderson would then break Bradford City hearts, consigning the West Yorkshire club to a disappointing 4th defeat in their last 6 league outings.

The result was very much against the expectations of the home crowd on a wet and blustery evening, but with Rochdale ending up with twice as many shots on target as the home side, few could have complained that Bradford City get much less than they deserved – despite a lot of animosity aimed at the poor standard of officiating.

The first game without Tyreik Wright, then, did not go to plan, but his replacement in the starting line up, the aforementioned Abo Eisa, did get his second goal in as many games. He will be looking to take his new found form (and new found fitness) to AFC Wimbledon this Saturday, while Vadaine Oliver and Andy Cook duke it out for the right to start up front.

The conditions at Valley Parade on Tuesday were hardly conducive to an attractive or exciting game, and in truth they might be no better on Saturday. Rain is predicted all morning, and while it's unlikely to prevent the game going ahead (pitch inspections had to take place ahead of the Rochdale fixture), Bradford City will need to perform much better and in a much more assured manner if they are to return up the M1 with a full compliment of points.

One of the issues that has hamstrung Bradford City in recent months continues to be the failure of the majority of the side to register even a single goal. Between them, Alex Gilliead, Romoney Crichlow, Matthew Platt, Brad Halliday, and Matthew Foulds have contributed nothing in an attacking sense. Harry Chapman, the club's attacking midfielder for most of the season, has scored just 1 league goal, while Richie Smallwood has netted just 2. Levi Sutton (16), Ryan East (8), Yan Songo'o (13), Jamie Walker (4), Liam Ridehalgh (7), and Lee Angol (14) have, between them, made no fewer than 62 appearances in the league this season and have also failed to contribute a single goal.

While Lee Angol has now departed the club, it's clear that Bradford City are not currently capable of scoring goals from a wide range of scenarios and situations, leaving all of the work up to the strikers and wingers – limiting their options, and the dangerousness of the team.

Highlights:

Bradford City 3 – 2 Salford City



Bradford City 1 – 2 Rochdale



Sutton United 2 – 1 AFC Wimbledon



Crewe Alexandra 0 – 0 AFC Wimbledon



Outlook:

One statistic that immediately jumps off the page is that midtable AFC Wimbledon have lost just 2 of their last 18 games in all competitions. There was a defeat against Chesterfield in the FA Cup, and a loss at Sutton United in one of their most recent games, but prior to that, AFC Wimbledon's last defeat came at home to Sutton United (again) on the 15th October.

Due to that fantastic record, AFC Wimbledon have made amends for a very poor start to the league season (Wimbledon lost 5 of their opening 9 League Two fixtures), but only as high as midtable (13th place). Part of that is down to AFC Wimbledon's propensity to draw games, with honours even in 8 of their last 18 games.

Contrast all of that with Bradford City's hit-and-miss form that has seen that win 4 and lose 6 of their last 10 games in all competitions, and this one becomes a very difficult game on paper for The Bantams. It also becomes very difficult to predict: AFC Wimbledon draw a lot of games, but Bradford City themselves haven't been held to a draw since 29th October.

Flip a coin, then, to try and predict the outcome of this one...

Still, all is not lost for Bradford City this season, and despite the uproar surrounding a real let down on Tuesday night (very much a missed opportunity to make the 4th spot their own), Bradford City continue to be in a leading position in the race for the four League Two play off positions. Sitting 5th in the table, level on points with 4th place Carlisle United (who they play next), Bradford City are one of many clubs now bunched up from 4th to 15th. With only 5 points separating the 12 clubs immediately outside of the automatic promotion zone, things might look good for now: but they could also take a turn for the worse very quickly indeed if Bradford City cannot find a spell of more consistent form.

The bottom half of the table – where AFC Wimbledon sit, looking upwards – is not so far away in terms of points as City fans begin to cast nervous glances over their shoulders...

Odds:

7/4: AFC Wimbledon
23/10: Draw
8/5: Bradford City

Predicted Outcome (THE VOICE):

AFC Wimbledon 1 – 1 Bradford City