The Voice - Match preview Bradford City vs Crawley Town Saturday 29th October @ 3:00pm

League Two Fixture #16

Saturday 29th October 15:00
Bradford City vs Crawley Town
Valley Parade (AKA University of Bradford Stadium)

Most Recent Results:

1: Harrogate Town 1 – 2 Bradford City
2: Bradford City 0 – 1 Stockport County
3: Salford City 0 – 1 Bradford City
4: Grimsby Town 0 – 0 Bradford City
5: Bradford City 1 – 1 Swindon Town

Form: DDWLW

1: Crawley Town 1 – 2 Stevenage
2: Grimsby Town 3 – 0 Crawley Town
3: Crawley Town 2 – 1 Newport County
4: Crawley Town 3 – 2 Mansfield Town
5: Colchester United 2 – 2 Crawley Town

Form: DWWLL

Head-to-Head Results:

Head-to-Head Form: LLLDL

11 Jan 2020: Crawley Town 2 – 1 Bradford City
15 Dec 2020: Crawley Town 1 – 1 Bradford City
13 Apr 2021: Bradford City 0 – 2 Crawley Town
25 Sep 2021: Crawley Town 2 – 1 Bradford City
29 Jan 2022: Bradford City 1 – 2 Crawley Town

Head-to-Head Results (All Time):

Won: 4
Drawn: 1
Lost: 7

Biggest Margin of Victory:

17 Sep 2011: Crawley Town 3 – 1 Bradford City
19 Aug 2014: Crawley Town 1 – 3 Bradford City
13 Apr 2021: Bradford City 0 – 2 Crawley Town

Spoiler: Historic Results Analysis

While results currently make grim reading for Bradford City against Crawley Town, it's worth noting that results have come in streaks. After losing the first 3 encounters, Bradford City then rattled off 4 successive wins, before losing 4 of the next 5 – achieving just 1 point form the available 15.

Perhaps, then, it's Bradford City's turn to embark upon a winning streak? Or maybe Crawley will extend their great form against Bradford City? Either way, as it stands, Crawley have the advantage both in terms of historical results and current form.

Crawley Town 2022/23:

Crawley Town sacked head coach Kevin Betsy on October 9th with the club bottom of League Two, and the club have not lost since.

Under the leadership of caretaker manager Lewis Young, a player who made 213 appearances for the Red Devils, Crawley Town have thus far rattled off three straight home wins followed by an away draw at Colchester United. Does this represent a short-lived new manager bounce, or are Crawley Town legitimately turning a corner?

Certainly goals have been much easier to come by for Crawley since Young took the reins – and this has coincided with the dropping of star Summer signing Dom Telford, who has not started a league game since, although he did convert a last minute penalty in the 5-2 win over Aston Villa U21's in the Football League Trophy.

Instead, Ashley Nadesan, James Tilley and Tom Nichols have taken over attacking duties, and enjoyed great success. Nadesan has scored in all 3 league games under Young, and Tilley has scored in 2. Former Bradford City forward Aramide Oteh and winger Mark Marshall both made great impressions in the win over Aston Villa U21's, but have seen limited minutes in the league – but could still potentially make an appearance (and a difference) at Valley Parade on Saturday.

One thing that has not noticeably improved, however, has been Crawley Town's defence. Under Lewis Young, the club have conceded 7 goals in the last 4 games in all competitions, and the onus has very much been on outscoring the opposition in order to secure points – in stark contrast to a Bradford City side currently struggling for goals.

Knowing what to expect from Crawley Town on Saturday is a tough one. While the club have not recorded a single away win in any competition this season, they did manage a creditable 2-2 draw away at Salford City in the midst of their worst form, and Harrogate Town and Rochdale also failed to beat Crawley Town on their own soil. That represents three marginally successful trips up North, although Doncaster Rovers (4-1) and Grimsby Town (3-0) both brushed Betsy's men aside. Will they continue their good recent form, or revert to type?

A lot will depend on Nadesan (5 goals), Tilley (4 goals) and Nichols (2), and whether they can make the most of their potential firepower coming off the bench – although Telford has managed just 1 league goal this season, and Oteh has yet to find the mark in the EFL.

Meanwhile, it's worth noting that goalkeeper Corey Addai was among the other players dropped by new caretaker manager Lewis Young, with David Robson deputising – a loanee signing from Hull City, who actually played against Bradford City this season for his parent club in the League Cup – when Bradford City won 2-1.

Bradford City 2022/23:

If David Robson is a good omen for Bradford City following this season's giant killing of League One Hull City, then it's also a good omen for striker Andy Cook – who scored twice in that game, and effectively established himself as City's #1 choice up front.

An omen is much-needed however, as both Andy Cook and Bradford City as a whole have struggled to score in recent games, netting just twice in the last four league outings. Tyreik Wright, who has now netted 3 times since joining the Bantams on loan from Aston Villa, continued his impressive start to life in League Two, dispatching what looked like the winner against Swindon Town on Tuesday night – only for the Bantams to bemoan their luck and their poor form in front of goal as Swindon Town were awarded a last minute penalty to secure a point in a smash-and-grab raid.

No reason to panic for manager Mark Hughes' mind, however, as Bradford City enjoyed good spells of play and created opportunities to put the game to bed. The profligacy of Harry Chapman and Dion Pereira was on display in a game where Bradford City had to rely on options other than the well-marshalled Cook, but there was no shortage of confidence among the attackers on Tuesday night – a good sign, surely, as City seek to end their mini-drought.

Another good omen for Bradford City was that they were able to win the battle for possession against a very neat-and-tidy Swindon Town side, who threatened City with the pace of their attacking players, without generating the same number of chances as The Bantams.

Still, there were commanding performances from Romoney Crichlow and Richie Smallwood, as well the ever-present threat of winger Tyreik Wright. This shows Bradford City's core players are still performing to a high level, and goalkeeper Harry Lewis was unfortunate to concede having initially saved Luke Jephcott's penalty – Jephcott tucked away the rebound to send the away fans into raptures, and the despair was visible on the faces of the Bradford City players at the full time whistle.

Bouncing back against in form Crawley Town is a must, to arrest a mini-slump that has seen just 1 win from the past 4 league games.

Recent Highlights:

Bradford City 1-1 Swindon Town



Grimsby Town 0-0 Bradford City



Colchester United 2-2 Crawley Town



Crawley Town 3-2 Mansfield Town



Outlook:

Crawley's goalscoring form since the temporary appointment of caretaker Lewis Young will be of some concern for Bradford City, although defensively The Bantams remain rock solid – City have not conceded a goal from open play in the league since Jaheim Headley scored for Harrogate Town back on the 1st October. Two penalties since, one for Paddy Madden, the other for Luke Jephcott (albeit technically a rebound), does nothing to dent confidence in Hughes' back line, or the superb form of goalkeeper Harry Lewis.

That Crawley did not win their most recent away game at fellow strugglers Colchester United (23rd in the table) will also be of comfort, as their blistering home form under Young has not yet translated to their away form. Furthermore, Crawley Town's weak defensive stats indicate a potentially lopsided focus on attack, something Bradford City will no doubt feel they can exploit given their capability at launching rapid counter attacks as well as dominating periods of possession.

Victory must be the focus for Bradford City, and taking advantage of Crawley Town's back line is a must. For all the promise of Ashley Nadesan's form, City will look for more from their front 4, even if Mark Hughes chooses to shake things up after the Swindon Town game.

Expect goals, then, but equally expect a much more competitive Crawley Town to visit Valley Parade than might have done had Kevin Betsy not been sacked. Confidence will be at a season-long high, and the added incentive of representing owners WAGMI United against the club that rejected a buy out last season could add a little spice in the build up to the game.

WAGMI have overseen a very poor start for Crawley Town, but will be focussed on making a surprise turnaround as they attempt to charge up the table. Certainly the individual players available to Crawley are not all poor; and options from the bench include Aramide Oteh, Mark Marshall and last season's League Two hotshot Dom Telford, although all three have failed to make a significant impact in the league this season.

City will rely heavily, then, on the experience of manager Mark Hughes, 25 years the senior of opposite number Lewis Young, who has been there, done that, and bought the t shirt in terms of challenging promising young managers. Avoiding an upset, as Mansfield Town suffered recently against Crawley Town, is not only top of the agenda - a morale-boosting win is, essentially, a must.

Odds:

13/20: Bradford City
11/4: Draw
17/4: Crawley Town

Predicted Outcome (THE VOICE):

Bradford City 3-1 Crawley Town