The Voice - Match preview Bradford City vs Gillingham Saturday 22nd April 2023 @ 3:00pm

League Two Fixture #42

Saturday 22nd April 2023 15:00
Bradford City (6th) vs Gillingham (17th)
Valley Parade (AKA University of Bradford Stadium)

Most Recent Results:

1: Bradford City 3 – 2 Grimsby Town
2: Crawley Town 0 – 0 Bradford City
3: Bradford City 3 – 1 Sutton United
4: Rochdale 0 – 3 Bradford City
5: Swindon Town 1 – 0 Bradford City

Form: LWWDW

1: Barrow 2 – 1 Gillingham
2: Gillingham 1 – 0 Doncaster Rovers
3: Northampton Town 2 – 1 Gillingham
4: Gillingham 1 – 1 Stockport County
5: Gillingham 2 – 0 Leyton Orient

Form: WDLWL

Head-to-Head Results:

Head-to-Head Form:

12 Aug 2017: Gillingham 0 – 1 Bradford City
24 Mar 2018: Bradford City 1 – 0 Gillingham
27 Oct 2018: Gillingham 4 – 0 Bradford City
22 Apr 2019: Bradford City 1 – 1 Gillingham
28 Feb 2023: Gillingham 0 – 2 Bradford City

Head-to-Head Results (All Time):

Won: 15
Drawn: 16
Lost: 23

Biggest Margin of Victory:

14 Sep 2001: Bradford City 5 – 1 Gillingham
23 Feb 2002: Gillingham 0 – 4 Bradford City
27 Oct 2018: Gillingham 4 – 0 Bradford City

For Better or Worse:
First Half of the Season vs Second Half of the Season Analysis

Crawley Town: DRAW followed by DRAW
Sutton United: WIN followed by WIN
Rochdale: DEFEAT followed by WIN
Swindon Town: DRAW followed by DEFEAT
Gillingham: WIN followed by ???

Results so far: The second half of the season has seen an improvement by 3 points



Gillingham 2022/23:
Gillingham beat Leyton Orient in bizarre fashion to secure their EFL status for 2023/24 season

The nature of the ending of the Gillingham-Leyton Orient game will have had footballing purists holding their nose, as a post-floodlight failure period of around 13 minutes saw both teams effectively give up on the game and see out time without competing. The victory over League Two's champions elect saw Gillingham secure their EFL status for another season, while Orient have all but secured the League Two title – save for what feels like dotting the i's and crossing the t's.

A statistically uneventful game, the dismissal of Leyton Orient defender Omar Beckles in the 14th minute led to a tie that saw a total of only 7 shots between the two sides. Nonetheless, a recent uptick in form (particularly at home) has seen Gillingham come within minutes of an upset win against Stockport County, while seeing off all of Doncaster Rovers, Carlisle United, Crewe Alexandra, and Tranmere Rovers on home soil.

The last visiting side to take a maximum complement of 3 points from the Priestfield? Bradford City.

The truth is, Gillingham have been a highly competitive side at home all season, despite their lowly league position and the requirement to save themselves with a string of results this late into the season. Gillingham sit 7th in the home league table, and had their away record not been so derisory, the Kent outfit might have even troubled the upper echelons of the division.

Yet, 2 away wins all season speaks for itself. Gillingham are, to be blunt, pathetic travellers. That might not be cause to celebrate for Bradford City just yet, however, as the Gills can now play with a freedom that comes when their mission of survival has been accomplished, and the side that visits Valley Parade this weekend must be looking to improve on their dismal tally of having scored just 12 goals in 21 away matches.

Whether that comes to pass is another matter, however. Gillingham have managed just 2 goals in their last 5 away fixtures, and the 2 teams they have actually defeated on their travels include Rochdale (effectively relegated) and Colchester United (currently sat in 20th place). Certainly not the cream of this season's crop, by any means...

But Gillingham do have the ability to frustrate teams away from home, and played out a pair of goalless draws against Harrogate Town and high-flyers Stockport County as recently as early March. If Neil Harris' men come and park the bus against a potentially easily frustrated Valley Parade, they could potentially eek out a point.

That said, a 2-0 away defeat is by far the most common outcome for Gillingham away from the Priestfield this season, occurring no fewer than 6 times in both league (5) and cup (1). Walsall were the most recent beneficiaries of a 2-0 home win against the Gills, with Gillingham managing 0 shots on target.

With the job done and dusted, Gillingham must dig much deeper down for the motivation to prevail in a potentially tumultuous tie Valley Parade this weekend.

Bradford City 2022/23:
A disastrous Tuesday evening leaves Bradford City trailing the automatic promotion pack by 5 points

Tuesday night could not have gone much worse for The Bantams.

Not only were Bradford City beaten in a surprise 1-0 upset at Swindon Town, but all of the club's play off and automatic rivals picked up at least a point – with most, including Salford City, Mansfield Town, Northampton Town, and Stevenage all picking up 3 points. A draw between Carlisle United and Stockport County ensured everyone in the top 8 barring Leyton Orient advanced their campaign at City's expense.

It was a bitter blow to Mark Hughes' men, and their remaining automatic promotion hopes. That said, all is not yet lost. It is, however, no longer in Bradford City's own gift to forge their destiny at this late stage. Relying on results elsewhere can be an unrewarding pursuit, but The Bantams now have no choice. The least they can do, then, is pick up the maximum number of points themselves from the remaining 4 games.

With Gillingham theoretically having nothing to play for (and indeed not playing at all for the final 10 minutes against Leyton Orient), it would be easy to assume this game will be a walkover. After all, does 'playing for pride' really count when 2 sides conspired to refuse to play at all?

Nonetheless, whatever Gillingham should show up on Saturday, this game could not be more important for Bradford City. While their hopes of a top 3 finish were severely dashed on Tuesday, the race for the play offs is still not over. Mansfield Town currently occupy 8th place, and have won 3 and drawn 2 of their last 5. Salford City might be the team to act as fall guys, but until that has played out mathematically, Bradford City must continue to pick up as many points as possible.

Imperative, then, that City see off one of the worst away sides in the division.

In order to do that, Bradford City fans will be hoping Andy Cook can manage a return to form. After a couple of games spent shanking or miskicking most of his shots, the division's most potent centre forward will be desperate to get his name on the score sheet.

One man that will not be scoring, however, is Harry Chapman. The winger clattered one of the advertising hoardings in the 1-0 defeat at Swindon Town, and appeared to suffer a muscle injury as a result. It's a blow for the Bantams, but equally an opportunity for someone like Thierry Nevers to write his name into Bradford City folklore with his exploits during the final games of the season. That, or Matt Derbyshire or Emmanuel Osadebe will be forced to step up; but either way, Bradford City cannot afford to draw another blank on Saturday afternoon.

Highlights:

Swindon Town 1 – 0 Bradford City



Gillingham 2 – 0 Leyton Orient



Gillingham 0 – 2 Bradford City



Outlook:

Without any context at all, Gillingham's recent form looks ominous for a Bradford City that cannot afford any more slip ups. The fact is, however, Gillingham's away form has not improved, and remains the second worst in the division. Their win against 10 man Leyton Orient came in bizarre circumstances, and their second goal came from the penalty spot. Needless to say, things could not have gone much more smoothly for The Gills.

Neil Harris will not be naïve enough to expect a repeat at Valley Parade.

Bradford City have everything to play for, and a shock defeat at Swindon Town only increases the club's need for a maximum 3 points from Saturday's game. While fans will have their eyes on scorelines elsewhere, no doubt, City themselves will need to be laser-focussed on seeing off Gillingham with no scope for another unpleasant surprise.

That said, the game seems to favour City. Their home form has been much-improved of late, and they are the last team to leave the Priestfield with all 3 points. Their 2-0 win at Gillingham was much deserved, and went with the run of play. Richie Smallwood and Andy Cook both got their names on the scoresheet, and both will have even more motivation this weekend.

City's ability to dictate the majority of player and create the better chances at Gillingham bodes well; but the fact remains, this is another banana skin against a side who can afford to play with complete freedom.

Gillingham don't appear to possess anything to make Bradford City unduly afraid; but the sheer amount of pressure on the City players' shoulders could yet play an important factor. If things should start to unravel early, will the Valley Parade crowd be quick to get on the City players' shoulders? Or will they back them vocally, as they have done for so many years?

Let us hope it is the latter; but let us hope it doesn't even come to that, and this plays out in as comfortable a fashion as possible.

Odds:

8/11: Bradford City
11/5: Draw
19/4: Gillingham

Predicted Outcome (THE VOICE):

Bradford City 2 – 0 Gillingham