The Voice - Match preview Bradford City vs Grimsby Town Saturday 9th September 12:30pm - sky sports

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EFL LEAGUE TWO FIXTURE #7

Saturday 9th September 2023 12:30
Bradford City vs Grimsby Town
University of Bradford Stadium (AKA Valley Parade)

22/23 Results:

22 Oct 2022: Grimsby Town 0 – 0 Bradford City
01 Apr 2023: Bradford City 3 – 2 Grimsby Town

Head-to-Head Form: WDWWD

Won: 30
Drawn: 17
Lost: 18

Current League Form:

Bradford City: DWLDW
Grimsby Town: WDDWL

GRIMSBY TOWN

Much like their opponents this Saturday, Grimsby Town's form is a tale of two completely different formbooks: at home, Grimsby Town are unbeaten, notching 2 wins and 3 draws across all competitions. Away, however, Grimsby have managed 1 draw and 2 defeats.

As the table starts to take it's preliminary shape early this season, it's perhaps no surprise to see team's making the most of home field advantage – but Bradford City seem to be encountering a string of teams with a near perfect dichotomy between home and away form, and that feels pretty unusual!

Grimsby Town did get a draw in the recent away trip to Walsall, however, having lost away day outings at Mansfield Town (EFL Cup) and Notts County, but will be disappointed not to have seen the game through after ex-Bantam Abo Eisa gave them a 52nd minute lead. Walsall, for their part, equalised in the 81st minute, before seeing defender Chris Hussey sent off in injury time.

Walsall, like Bradford City currently, had boasted a perfect home record after 2 EFL League Two games. That Grimsby Town almost beat them will be a morale boost for the travelling Mariners' fans, and one they'll look to build on at Valley Parade. A 2-0 home win over Gillingham was also eye-catching, though for once Eisa was not on the score sheet! Veteran defender Niall Maher and midfielder Gavan Holohan grabbed the goals in a deserved win after one of the early season favourites for automatic promotion, and if they can avoid defeat in Tuesday night's EFL Trophy game against Barnsley (away), they'll be coming into this game in fine spirits.

The aforementioned Abo Eisa (4) has started the season in red hot form, perhaps leaving Bradford City fans frustrated to see another of last season's first team options performing so well away from Valley Parade. 4 other players have managed to find themselves on the scoresheet, but none have scored more than 1, including ever-present forward Danny Rose and midfielder Harry Clifton.

Paul Hurst, once linked with the Bradford City hotseat, has done a pretty impressive job in the aftermath of the failure to turn around their doomed relegation season back in the 20/21 season. Not only did he restore Grimsby Town to the EFL at the first time of asking (and at the expense of Phil Parkinson's moneybags Wrexham), but he guided the Mariners to a top half finish (11th) in their return season. Grimsby currently sit 12th with just 1 league defeat in 6 games, suggesting that, once again, they will be competitive.

It's not all sunshine and smiles on the East coast though. Hurst was left frustrated by his club's inability to reinforce on transfer deadline day despite bringing in 12 players this Summer, citing that opportunities “just got taken away”. There are concerns, then, that Grimsby Town lack the strength in depth to cover every position adequately in the event of injuries, particularly up front. That they are relying so heavily on Abo Eisa, who spent two horribly injury-stricken seasons at Valley Parade, might feel like the Mariners are sitting on a ticking time bomb – but it's a case of so far, so good for Eisa, and long may his fitness continue.

Speaking of ex-Bantams, Charles Vernam started the season with a string of starts for Town, only to be struck down by injury himself, adding to a list already including Otis Khan, Donovan Wilson, and Kieran Green. That could hamper The Mariners going forward, but for now Grimsby Town's proliferation of home games (relative to Bradford City at least) has stood them in good enough stead for the time being.

That away form, though, will have to improve, particularly with the number of stalemates Grimsby have already endured at home.

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Grimsby Town 2 – 0 Gillingham

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Walsall 1 – 1 Grimsby Town

BRADFORD CITY

While Grimsby Town have enjoyed more home games than away days, Bradford City have only graced Valley Parade twice in a full eight game stretch that has tested not only the endurance of the City squad, but the patience of a long-suffering fan base.

While a pair of wins over Colchester United and previously-undefeated Crewe Alexandra have given The Bantams a 100 % home record, the big concern overall is the lack of goals coming out of this City side. 6 goals in 8 games, and only 1 game where Bradford City scored more than a single goal, isn't good enough. That said, away trips to Stockport County, Wrexham (EFL Cup), and Mansfield Town are out of the way, as are the pair of 'easier' looking games in Morecambe and Crawley Town, which both proved to be banana skins.

Now Mark Hughes' men are looking at 4 home games in their next 5 fixtures in both league and cup. Grimsby Town and Harrogate Town will be followed by later home ties with Middlesbrough (EFL Cup) and Walsall, and realistically, a 9-point haul might be needed to lift the sense of disquiet among the Valley Parade faithful, while Middlesbrough remains a free hit.

The bad news is, last season's top scorer Andy Cook is out for the time being, and his long-time deputy Vadaine Oliver has been recovering from an operation and won't be fit in the coming games either. This season's top scorer Alex Pattison is also unavailable, and the list grows longer with Clarke Oduor called up by Kenya for a game in Qatar.

All four attacking stars will miss the Grimsby Town match.

That leaves Jamie Walker as the only available player with a league goal to his credit, while Tyler Smith has at least managed to claim an EFL Cup goal from the penalty spot. Wondering where the goals will come from this Saturday will be top of every Bradford City fan's list of concerns, but it's not like Bradford City aren't creating chances.

Perhaps surprisingly, and ever since the EFL Cup tie at Accrington, Bradford City have managed an equal number or greater of shots on target in all of the subsequent 6 games – which is contrary to the general feeling of dismay at City's lacking of attacking prowess coming from the stands.

Of course sides like Stockport County and Wrexham had more shots in total, but that statistic has not been converted into anything of substance. Wayward efforts don't win football matches, but they do give a general sense of which team is on top.

Against Grimsby, then, Bradford City will need to rely on their smaller, pacier players, with Smith, Walker, and maybe one of the deadline day loan players like Rayhaan Tulloch or Chisom Afoka backing them up in an attacking sense. Alternatively, Bobby Pointon might be worth considering for a start, or (at the other end of the age spectrum) Matt Derbyshire might get a chance. Alternatively, Mark Hughes might spring a surprise with Adam Wilson, though the City manager has been keen to downplay expectations based on his fitness levels relative to the rest of the squad.

Either way, attacking options are severely limited for this game, so it's perhaps unlikely to expect The Bantams to burst into scintillating attacking form. A more pragmatic approach might be required, which could suit Bradford City after conceding just 1 goal in their last 3 fixtures in league and cup.

 

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THE BREAKDOWN

Bradford City: 11/10
Draw: 23/10
Grimsby Town: 13/5

With both sides hampered by injuries, one wonders if Mark Hughes' ability to bring in deadline day loans (as opposed to Paul Hurst, who was unable to do so, much to his chagrin), might make the difference here.

That said, there's simply no accounting for injuries to players as critical to The Bantams attacking success as Andy Cook and Alex Pattison, let alone absences for Clarke Oduor and (longer term) Vadaine Oliver. That's an almighty blow to The Bantams, but one they will be preparing for on the training ground this week.

Calls from the stand for more attacking play might be coming at the worst time, or alternatively, it might just be time for a fresh face to step into the breach and make an instant impact. Mark Hughes' selection this Saturday will be telling, but he could still potentially field more attackers than he did in the recent away trip to Mansfield Town.

With that visit to Field Mill successfully garnering a point on the road, it's a shame Hughes can't stick with the same XI. Oduor's absence, though, increases the chances of seeing either Pointon, Derbyshire or Tulloch getting a start, as the defensive side of things certainly don't require further reinforcement.

Indeed Grimsby Town will have a hard time breaking down the Bradford City back line, and even the proposition of the return of free-scoring Abo Eisa doesn't necessarily seem so intimidating. City's downfall is more likely to come from defensive lapses on free kicks and set pieces, which seem to be a perennial thorn in City's side.

From that standpoint, hopefully Kevin McDonald is fit again to start alongside Richie Smallwood, and can organise the City side whilst adding significant height to the mix. Could he be the surprise impact player this weekend, against a side well-drilled and well-versed in making the most of those set piece scenarios that so often seem to plague Bradford City?

To the breakdown, then: Grimsby's poor run of form on the road is a key factor, here, as is Bradford City's 100 % record at Valley Parade so far. Injuries are a huge story for both sides, with Bradford City potentially better stocked by very recent reinforcements. Grimsby Town benefit from a style of play that accentuates Bradford City's defensive frailties, suggesting they probably do score at least 1. Having said that, The Bantams' defence is currently the strongest part of the team by far, possibly limiting the Mariners' ability to pepper Harry Lewis' goal, and while the tricky Abo Eisa will be looking to make his mark and continue his fine form, it might be his tricky feet that are his biggest asset here.

The bottom line is, though, Mark Hughes needs somebody to step up and fill those gaping voids up front. Tyler Smith has shown plenty of willingness to work hard and run down defences up front, and Jamie Walker is a threat on his day. But it might be whoever replaces Oduor that needs to have a great game, whether that be Pointon, Derbyshire or Tulloch – and I suspect it might just be the latter player...

I'm thinking Bradford City do get this done, in line with their superb form against Grimsby Town in head-to-head competition (Grimsby haven't beaten Bradford City in 18 [EIGHTEEN] games), but who actually gets the goals is the key question here. Frankly, I couldn't tell you...

PREDICTION:

Bradford City 2 – 1 Grimsby Town