The Voice - Match preview Bradford City vs Colchester United Saturday 12th August 2023 @ 3:00pm

​

EFL LEAGUE TWO FIXTURE #2

Saturday 12th August 15:00
Bradford City vs Colchester United
University of Bradford Stadium (AKA Valley Parade)

22/23 Results:

16 Aug 2022: Colchester United 1 – 0 Bradford City
04 Mar 2023: Bradford City 2 – 0 Colchester United

Head-to-Head Form:

Won: 10
Drawn: 14
Lost: 16

Biggest Margin of Victory:

30 Dec 1961: Colchester United 9 – 1 Bradford City

COLCHESTER UNITED

The story of the Summer for Colchester United was the exodus of many of the experienced heads who ultimately failed to deliver last season. Ben Garner, who took over the reins at Layer Road in early March after the sacking of Matt Bloomfield, certainly made the U's harder to beat – although his first game in charge saw them slump to a 2-0 defeat at Bradford City, before they fell again at home to Stockport County, another play off-bound side. After that, 8 games without defeat solidified Garner's reputation with the Colchester United fanbase, and sticking 4 goals past both Crewe Alexandra and Sutton United at home will have certainly helped too.

Two defeats in the final games of the season (Doncaster Rovers away and Mansfield Town at home, another side who were chasing the play offs but narrowly missed out) saw Colchester United finish in 20th place, just 6 points above the dreaded drop zone.

The resulting clear out saw 37 year olds Cole Skuse and Luke Chambers depart, along with 34 year old Alan Judge, 33 year olds Tommy Smith and Freddie Sears, as well as 31 centre back Tom Eastman. The club's oldest recruit this Summer? 25 year old Ellis Iandolo, a capture from fellow League Two outfit Swindon Town.

A changing of the guard, then, and a drastic reduction in the average age (and experience level) of the squad. Whether that will be to Colchester's detriment or not remains to be seen, and a waterlogged pitch this past Saturday remarkably caused Colchester United's home tie with Swindon Town to be called off! No data, then, on this new look Colchester United squad even at this early stage, but on Wednesday the club lined up in the Carabao Cup first round with a very tricky tie away at Erol Bulut's Cardiff City.

Colchester United, significant underdogs against a fairly strong Cardiff City outfit, were 2-0 down after 35 minutes, with Rubin Colwill and Kion Etete scoring for the Bluebirds, but the lead would last just 9 minutes total as Colchester produced a spirited fight back, netting from close range through John Akinde after good work from winger Jayden Fevrier, and then again through strike partner Joe Taylor (making his debut on loan from Luton Town), again after very good work from Fevrier.

Fevrier, a free transfer from the West Ham United academy in October 2022, was making his first start for the U's, and made a tremendous impression. His footwork beguiled the Cardiff City defence for both goals, though the assist for Taylor was definitely the pick of the pair. Unfortunately for Colchester United and Ben Garner, though, their very creditable efforts to get back on level terms against their Championship opponents did not bring them a spot in the second round draw. Having fluffed their lines on all 3 of their penalties, Colchester United were sent packing, and with a suspension for 19 year old striker Samson Tovide to boot (pun intended). An excessively high boot/knee made for a seriously dangerous tackle, and referee Will Finnie had no hesitation in doling out a straight red. There were seemingly no objections from anyone in Colchester United colours.

In terms of individual performances, Crystal Palace loanee keeper Owen Goodman kept ex-Bantam Sam Hornby on the bench, and made a couple of smart saves – though he also saw his woodwork rattled with a fierce drive, and was at fault for spilling Ollie Tanner's shot straight to Etete for the second Cardiff goal. Veteran striker John Akinde, who was surprisingly withdrawn at half time as Garner brought on no fewer than 4 players (presumably a tactical decision based on his squad's game time), was a handful as usual and deserved his goal, but it was Colchester's neat and tidy passing game that most impressed.

Will Greenidge and Connor Hall dictated Colchester's possession at the back posting the highest number of passes, and while Cardiff City undoubtedly won the midfield battle, it was Jayden Fevrier who made the biggest mark with his two assists – despite posting a very low (48 %) pass completion stat – possibly indicating he was one player taking risks and trying to make things happen.

Colchester's resolute spirit allowed them to make the most of the fact they only had 2 shots on target all game, both close range finishes from Fevrier's wing play, and while Cardiff City managed 23 total shots on goal (9 on target), they were unable to put the game beyond Ben Garner's men. Colchester's high foul count showed they were not prepared to be push overs, but equally that there was a predictable gulf in skill level between the two sides.

Still, Garner will be encouraged by his sides ability to come back from 2-0 down against a side 2 divisions above them. What will it mean for them ahead of their first EFL League Two game this Saturday?

BRADFORD CITY

To say Bradford City's first League Two game of the season was a let down would be an understatement – but their cause was not helped by an overzealous official who brandished 13 yellow cards, including to Bradford City assistant Glyn Hodges and Crawley Town manager Scott Lindsey – and 2 to debutant defender Daniel Oyegoke, who received his marching orders after just 41 minutes.

By that time, Bradford City were already a goal down after a questionable free kick award allowed defender Will Wright to send a long range strike past goalkeeper Harry Lewis – the target of a raid from Barnsley that was ultimately thwarted in the Summer. Going down to 10 soon after threw Mark Hughes' plans into disarray, and in truth, Bradford City never really looked like getting back into the game despite keeping the scoreline at a respectable 1-0. It wasn't the victory City's travelling supporters were looking for in what looked like an appealing first tie of the season against a troubled Crawley Town outfit, but these things don't always go to plan.

Andy Cook struggled to get in the game, with Richie Smallwood the unlikely figure notching the most shots on goal/target, with 3 of 3 efforts testing the Crawley goalkeeper. Jamie Walker, Clarke Oduor, Liam Ridehalgh and Alex Pattison all threatened, but it was an uphill battle and Crawley looked lively despite only 3 of 21 goalbound efforts actually hitting the target. Klaidi Lollos and Dom Telford were both wasteful, but the game was ultimately decided by that single free kick from Wright.

Despite all that, Bradford City managed 46 % of possession, and mustered 14 shots on goal, far from the efforts of a dead-and-buried side, despite their inability to get back on level terms. On to the Carabao Cup, then, where The Bantams were back on the road as they made the journey to Accrington Stanley, recently relegated from League One.

The game was far more even, and saw only 5 yellow cards, as things seemed to return to normal after the storm of cautions against Crawley Town. Alex Pattison notched his first goal since his Summer move from Harrogate Town just before half time, but a number of changes in the second half worked a treat as substitute Josh Andrews levelled just 2 minutes after coming on.

Andy Cook had a more productive game and had a couple of chances, while Jamie Walker was at his combative best contested no fewer than 7 tackles, and getting fouled on 4 separate occasions. Ciaran Kelly, perhaps surprisingly, saw most of the ball for Bradford City, and achieved the highest number of passes, passes completed, ball steals and tackles won.

More of the same, then, will be demanded from certain players by Mark Hughes, but also much more from his City side from an attacking perspective. While they matched Accrington Stanley's total efforts on goal, they still weren't the threat Hughes will demand going forward. Andy Cook continues to work up front on his own, and will be eager to get off the mark as soon as possible this season, but with key signings like Kevin McDonald unavailable, Tyler Smith not quite fit, and a couple of other issues, it doesn't feel like we've seen the optimum attacking force just yet.

Bradford City fans will likely breath a sigh of relief if they are able to name a more attacking line up this Saturday – and especially if they can field 2 up front from the off, as has been rumoured to be the preference all Summer. For now, though, Pattison's goal from midfield (as a result of a long ball flicked on by Andy Cook) is a little glimpse of City's new-look attacking line up, and Bantams fans will be hoping for much more of that going forward – as well as more exciting penalty shoot out success, as they bested Accrington Stanley 4-1 to progress to the second round of the Carabao Cup!

 

​

THE BREAKDOWN

Bradford City: 5/6
Draw: 5/2
Colchester United: 10/3

Not the start Bradford City fans might have envisioned, but at least they progressed in the Carabao Cup – drawing Wrexham away against Bradford City cup legend Phil Parkinson!

That will be a tasty tie for both sides, as Wrexham suffered a humbling 5-3 defeat at home to MK Dons on the first day of the season, before holding Wigan Athletic to a 0-0 draw and winning out on penalties in the Carabao Cup first round.

Will the excitement generated have an impact on the upcoming first home game of the season against Colchester United? Probably not. Hughes will be keen to keep his players' feet on the ground, as they look to break out of the traps at the second time of asking.

Mark Hughes described the first game of the season at Crawley 'disappointing' all-in-all, a sentiment echoed vociferously by City fans since. One game does not define a season, however, so onwards and upwards as the Bantams head into another game in which they find themselves considerable favourites. It will be important to get some points on the board here, as a tough away day at Stockport the following Tuesday night promises to be an arduous task, while an away day at Derek Adams' Morecambe will see a manager desperate to avenge his sacking by his former club.

Unfortunately, that does not make this an easy game, however. Colchester United showed on Wednesday night they have skilled players and a strong spirit. Missing the first game of the season makes them more of an enigma, too, for Mark Hughes and Glyn Hodges to unravel, while Ben Garner won't fail to have noticed City struggling to put the ball in the net across their 2 opening games of the season.

'Mark Andy Cook' will likely be the first objective of every defence facing Bradford City this season, and last season's 30-goal striker will simply have to contend with that week in, week out. It made little difference to him last season, but there's certainly a sense that City will need to get players to support him far more this campaign if they're to finally achieve that all-important promotion back to League One.

Alex Pattison has already shown signs that he's an astute signing at this level with his goal at Accrington, and it will be interesting to follow the attacking midfielder in terms of goals and assists this campaign. Still, the honour of being Bradford City's first league goalscorer of the season remains open, but hopefully not for long!

Clarke Oduor is another player hoping to hit the goal trail, and it would certainly be timely ahead of the introductions of players like Kevin McDonald (to shake up the midfield) and Tyler Smith, who will be hoping to cement his place as City's second forward.

Expect Bradford City to face a tough opponent this Saturday, and the defence will have to mind their P's and Q's against a younger-looking Colchester side filled with ambitious attacking players and cultured ball-playing defenders. John Akinde will provide presence up front, though in truth he's struggled for goals since moving to Layer Road, and the onus may ultimately fall on the likes of young loanees Joe Taylor and Mauro Bandeira to make up for the absence of older heads in the Colchester United line up.

That said, a 2-1 home win is the pick this weekend, with (ideally) goals from the likes of Andy Cook and one of the other attack-minded players in the squad, or in the absence of one or the other, a well-worked set piece routine that were looking promising in preseason. The gulf between the sides was pretty big last season, and despite Colchester United becoming progressively harder to beat under Ben Garner, it's unlikely to have closed entirely.

PREDICTION:

Bradford City 2 – 1 Colchester United