The Voice - Match preview Colchester United vs Bradford City Tuesday 16 August @ 7:45pm

League Two Fixture #4

Tuesday 16 August 19:45
Colchester United vs Bradford City
Colchester Community Stadium (AKA JobServe Community Stadium)

Most Recent Results:

1: Bradford City 0 – 0 Doncaster
2: Barrow 3 – 2 Bradford City
3: Bradford City 2 – 0 Newport County

1: Northampton Town 3 – 2 Colchester United
2: Colchester united 1 – 1 Carlisle United
3: Stockport County 1 – 0 Colchester United

Head-to-Head Results:

Head-to-Head Form: LDWDD

21 Jan 2020: Colchester United 0 – 0 Bradford City [League Two]
12 Sep 2020: Bradford City 0 – 0 Colchester United [League Two]
27 Mar 2021: Colchester United (Nouble 42) 1 – 2 (Scales 10, Cook 58) Bradford City [League Two]
08 Dec 2021: Bradford City 0 – 0 Colchester United [League Two]
18 Apr 2022: Colchester United (Kenlock 16, Sarpong-Wiredu 33, Sears 75) 3 – 0 Bradford City [League Two]

Head-to-Head Results (All Time):

Won: 9
Drawn: 14
Lost: 15

Biggest Margin of Victory:

30 Dec 1961: Colchested United 9 – 1 Bradford City [League Division Four]

Spoiler: Historic Results Analysis

Historically, Colchester United have had Bradford City's number. The owners of a 9-1 win back in '61, Colchester have scored freely against City sides over the years, although in more recent years goals have been far harder to come by – for both sides.

With three goalless draws in the last five encounters, last season's 3-0 victory for Colchester was the widest margin since 1977 – when Colchester also prevailed 3-0. A red card for Paudie O'Connor didn't help, although Bradford City were already 2-0 down when he was given his marching orders.

Bizarrely, Bradford City have managed just one win over Colchester United in League Two competition – and only one win in League One, despite the clubs meeting ten times.

Mark Hughes' Bradford City will have work to do to redress the balance.

Colchester United 2021/22:

Colchester United's 3-0 win over Hughes' Bradford City this past April officially secured Colchester's League Two survival, although by the final game of the season The U's found themselves just one place and three points behind the Bantams.

2021/22 marked an improvement in Colchester United's fortunes, having finished as low as 20th in the 2020/21 season – although prior to that, they had managed a 6th placed finished, losing the play off semi finals to Exeter United.

Last season saw Freddie Sears finish the club's top scorer with 14 league goals, while Noah Chilvers was next with 8. Goals were a particular problem for Colchester last season, scoring just 48 times, and conceding 60.



Colchester United 2022/23:

Wayne Brown was managed to retain the vast majority of last season's squad, lending the club a familiar look in 2022/23's opening fixtures. One position that has seen a significant change is the goalkeeper, with Shamal George departing for the Scottish Premier League with Livingtson, while veteran Dean Gerken was released at the age of 37. Former Bradford City stopper Sam Hornby is the new Colchester United number 1, making him the only new signing to make a start in the league thus far.

Up front, Colchester are able to call on Freddie Sears, Franck Nouble, John Akinde, and Samson Tovide, although thus far only Sears has managed a goal – Noah Chilvers has provided two further goals, while Luke Hannant was the star of the show as Colchester United saw off League One Ipswich Town in the EFL Cup Round One 1-0.

Spoiler: Newport County Statistics

Colchester United's last two games were both away from home, and The U's managed just 1 shot on target across both games with Ipswich Town and Stockport County – and only 4 attempts in total.

Manager Wayne Brown, who took over in January, before being made permanent in May, appears to have done little to solve Colchester's goalscoring woes stemming from last season.

Colchester United have also failed to enjoy the majority of possession in any of their 4 opening fixtures in league or cup. Their sole success, a shock win at Portman Road, saw them enjoy as little as 20 % possession, while the highest degree of success came against Carlisle United in their only home game of the season – a 1-1 draw that saw Colchester manage 47 % possession.

Thus far this season, Tom Eastman has been Colchester United's stand out performer in defence, while Luke Hannant, Noah Chilvers and Freddie Sears have been their most productive players in opposition territory. The stand out statistic for Colchester United has been their tackling; Colchester have put in more tackles than the opposition in at least the last two matches, perhaps suggesting another tight encounter with the Bantams.

Bradford City 2022/23:

Bradford City's season is seemingly up-and-running after back-to-back wins over Newport County and Hull City, notching 4 goals and conceding just 1 across all 180 minutes of football. The Doncaster Rovers game aside, Bradford City have scored 2 goals in each of their outings, including in the 3-2 away defeat to Barrow.

While Colchester United have played just one home game this season (a draw), Bradford City have likewise only played one away game (a defeat). That could level the playing field somewhat, although Bradford City will take heart from scoring 2 against Barrow.

Andy Cook is the club's top scorer with 3 goals (1 league), while Jake Young, Richard Smallwood and Harry Chapman have all pitched in with a goal each. Summer signing Vadaine Oliver continues to seek his first goal having lost his starting berth in the past two games. Lee Angol, likewise, has been unable to find the mark across 4 starts this season.

Romoney Crichlow has been Bradford City's most prolific passer in all four of City's games this season, though against Hull City the centre back took a backseat to Richard Smallwood in terms of passing accuracy. The former Hull City captain has been consistently excellent in terms of pass completion so far this season, whilst also being a key tackler.

Other stand out players in terms of statistics include Harry Chapman (most shots against Hull and most fouled player against Newport County), and Matthew Platt, consistently close to Romoney Crichlow's numbers in terms of passes, tackles and passing accuracy. Against Newport County, it was Scott Banks that managed the most shots on goal with 3 attempts (1 on target).

Fans will likely remember spectacular efforts from Richie Smallwood in recent games (a goal against Newport, and hitting the post with a free kick against Doncaster Rovers).

Outlook:

While both sides progressed in the EFL Cup, it's Bradford City who have scored more goals and gained more points in the league this season. City now lie 11th in the table, while Colchester find themselves in all too familiar territory just above the relegation zone in 20th.

While manager Wayne Brown has added little to Colchester's squad in the Summer transfer window, he did manage to turn their form around last campaign, winning 7 of their final 12 games, including that thumping 3-0 win over Mark Hughes' Bradford City. Colchester even closed out the season picking up 10 points from their final 4 games, and scoring an impressive 7 goals.

This season, however, Colchester have managed just 4 goals in 4 games, starting the season in similar fashion to their 2021/22 campaign.

A buoyant Bradford City will no doubt look to avenge their humbling at the Colchester Communities Stadium last year, although they will need to break a long-standing hoodoo that has seen The U's dominate the Bantams from a historical perspective.

Odds:

17/10: Colchester United
12/5: Draw
8/5: Bradford City

Predicted Outcome (Sportsmole):

Colchester United 1 – 1 Bradford City