The Voice - Match preview Bradford City vs Crewe Alexandra Saturday 26th August 2023 3:00pm

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EFL LEAGUE TWO FIXTURE #5

Saturday 26th August 2023 15:00
Bradford City vs Crewe Alexandra
University of Bradford Stadium (Valley Parade)

22/23 Results:

27 Aug 2022: Bradford City 0 – 0 Crewe Alexandra
03 May 2023: Crewe Alexandra 3 – 2 Bradford City

Head-to-Head Form: LDLWW

Won: 43
Drawn: 20
Lost: 37

Biggest Margin of Victory:

15 Sep 1965: Crewe Alexandra 7 – 1 Bradford City
28 Apr 1979: Bradford City 6 – 0 Crewe Alexandra

Current Form:

Bradford City: LDWDL
Crewe Alexandra: DWDDD

CREWE ALEXANDRA

Undefeated Crewe Alexandra are just the second side to visit Valley Parade after a tumultuous start for The Bantams. By contrast, Crewe have already played at home 3 times in the league, drawing their only away league fixture 2-2.

2-2 is definitely the score of the season for the Railwaymen. Out of 4 League Two games, no fewer than 3 have finished 2-2 – an astonishing statistic that becomes even more surprising knowing that in all 3 2-2 draws, Crewe came back from 2-0 down to rescue a point. Groundhog day, then, for Alexandra fans? Maybe! But the spirit shown by Lee Bell's side cannot be underestimated.

All of Mansfield Town, Swindon Town, and Walsall saw their two goal cushion reduced to nothing by the rallying Railwaymen, while the other 2 games (a 1-1 draw in the EFL Cup at Sunderland and a 4-2 home win against Newport County) saw them taking the lead. 4 draws in total, then, and while Lee Bell will be happy to stay unbeaten, he has been quick to acknowledge that “you can't keep going behind two goals down in this league”.

This past weekend, Crewe conceded the first of the 2 goals scored by Walsall at The Mornflake Stadium in just 50 seconds. Frustration, then, for Bell, but as he later summed up “you go 2-0 down, you're going to take a point”.

So what's going on with Crewe, and why have they conceded so many goals, and why is centre back Mickey Demetriou the club's top scorer with 3 goals in 4 games?

Firstly, Crewe Alexandra are a young side with an average age of just 23. Mistakes will be made, and veteran defender Mickey Demetriou has had to lead the line alongside 19 year old Michael Williams and 23 year old Luke Offord in a settled back 3. Out wide, wing backs Ryan Cooney and 19 year old Rio Adebisi have been running the channels, with Adebisi already netting twice from left wing back. 19 year old Joel Tabiner and ex-Crawley midfielder Jack Powell have manned the two defensive midfield slots, while Chris Long and Shilow Tracey have most commonly supported sole striker Elliott Nevitt (or the alternative, Courtney Baker-Richardson).

Nevitt, who has netted twice so far this season, will be keen to overtake Demetriou in the goalscoring charts, while Shilow Tracey looks to open his account, and Chris Long looks to add to his sole goalscoring contribution.

Goalkeeper Harvey Davies, another 19 year old regular starter for Crewe, came in this Summer on loan from Liverpool, and has already picked the ball out of the net no fewer than 9 times in 5 games across both league and cup. A worrying statistic, perhaps, but not so much while Crewe's attacking prowess is bailing them out on a regular basis. If the goals start to dry up at the other end, however, (11 in 5 is a tremendous statistic), that defence will have to improve in line with any decrease.



Crewe Alexandra 2 – 2 Walsall



Crewe Alexandra 4 – 2 Newport County

BRADFORD CITY

Misery in Morecambe for City supporters who deserved far better than the turgid 'effort' that resulted in a humbling (humiliating?) 3-0 defeat against former manager Derek Adams' side.

If Derek Adams sides are about one thing, it's effort - “running through a brick wall”, as he once put it – but that was entirely lacking from a tired-looking, disinterested Bantams side with no heart for the battle at all.

A change in formation at half time while 1-0 down and having not threatened the Morecambe goal at all produced very little, either, a worrying sign for Bradford City fans who already doubted the character of last season's nearly men following an entire season filled with failed attempts to breach the top three. Captain Richie Smallwood had a dire game in central midfield, giving away the free kick that was punished by Burnley loanee Michael Mellon, who would later add his second from the penalty spot. JJ McKiernan's goal in the 68th minute killed off a tie against a side that never threatened to produce a Crewe Alexandra-esque comeback.

The passing accuracy of multiple defenders has been a cause for concern so far this season, especially considering Mark Hughes' tactics are predicated on a possession-based style. Sam Stubbs (71 % passing accuracy), Lewis Richards (63 %) and Daniel Oyegoke (67 %) where the main offenders statistically-speaking, but a general sloppiness and inability to turn possession into meaningful attacks under pressure from a highly motivated and young Morecambe side was still shocking to witness.

Harry Lewis, who hasn't yet looked like the same keeper after a fantastic debut season for the Bantams, and Andy Cook both look out of sorts, while only Alex Pattison and Clark Oduor really offered hope from the starting XI. Kevin McDonald will be a welcome addition to any starting XI that Mark Hughes can put forward, and his introduction once again heralded a clean and tidy performance.

Tyler Smith was the City player who had the most efforts on goal, but of his 3 attempts only 1 found the target – that said, his attacking stats are as good as the rest of the first team combined. Only Oduor, Cook and Platt had a chance at goal, and only Platt actually hit the target.

Hopefully this will be a week of soul-searching for the Bradford City players who did not perform to any sort of acceptable standard, because undefeated, resilient and free-scoring Crewe aren't likely to lend them any favours at all.



Morecambe 3 – 0 Bradford City



Stockport County 1 – 1 Bradford City

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THE BREAKDOWN

Bradford City: 4/7
Draw: 3/1
Crewe Alexandra: 9/2

Somewhat bizarrely, the oddsmakers have installed Bradford City as bigger favourites for Saturday's game against Crewe than Crewe's next opponents – League One outfit Port Vale in the EFL Cup!

Port Vale haven't lost since an opening day 7-0 hammering at the hands of Barnsley, but someone, somewhere seems to fancy them less than a Bradford City who just put in one of the worst performances in recent memory.

Under Mark Hughes Bradford City have only lost 3-0 in league competition twice – a pasting at run away league leaders Leyton Orient last season, and a drubbing down at Colchester in the short duration he enjoyed in charge the season before – and for the latter defeat, City rebounded with a victory over soon-to-be-relegated Scunthorpe United. Last season, however, the 3-0 loss at Leyton Orient was followed up with a 1-0 loss at Carlisle United on Boxing Day.

How City respond this time out will be critical to the atmosphere inside Valley Parade on Saturday. Bounce back early, and Bradford City's fine fans will no doubt back them to the hilt. Fall behind, and frustrations on the terraces are likely to mount.

Thankfully, scoring early against Crewe hasn't looked the toughest prospect in the EFL. Their bizarre record of playing out 3 2-2 draws already this season (going 2-0 down in all 3) has shown Crewe have resilience, but possibly lack the ability to start games on the front foot. Football, being a game of habits at times, could allow the Bantams to press an early advantage – but only if they, themselves, are not too despondent.

Bradford City need to start positively. They need to play for 90 minutes. They need, with no punches pulled, to reward the Valley Parade faithful (and especially those who witnessed the drubbing at the Globe Arena) with an all-action performance. There's no place to hide so early in the season, and if Richie Smallwood is rewarded with yet another start, the onus will be on the captain to prove his own resilience and leadership. But all eyes will be on the dug out, too, as pressure mounts on former Manchester City manager Mark Hughes.

A growing sense of frustration with the early season performances and tactics haven't helped, although last time City played at Valley Parade the result was a 2-1 win over Colchester United, and the performance barring an early gift from Harry Lewis was decent enough. If Mark Hughes opts for a 4-4-2, it's likely many City fans will start the game in a more positive mood. But whatever tactics and players Hughes leads out with, this performance cannot be another one from the shrinking violets who seem to melt under pressure.

The ideal, as we're all aware, is a good start, a goal for last season's 30-goal man Andy Cook, and a solid defensive performance with no sloppy errors, no chocolate fireguard walls facing up to unnecessarily conceded free kicks, and no early goals for the opposition. Can Bradford City actually put on that kind of display?

Tentatively, I think yes. I think they have to. I think, while one win won't quash every cause for concern, victory at home will continue to make Valley Parade a tough place to come for any side in League Two. Crewe will fancy their chances going forward, and particularly from set plays with Mickey Demetriou in particular off to a flyer, and it doesn't seem likely City will avoid conceding. That said, Crewe have been riding their luck lately, and even their manager is aware it can't last forever. They either improve themselves, or they will start losing.

I'm going for the latter, though I admit it feels a little optimistic.

PREDICTION:

Bradford City 2 – 1 Crewe Alexandra