The Voice - Match preview Grimsby Town vs Bradford City Saturday 22 October @ 3:00pm

League Two Fixture #14

Saturday 22nd October 15:00
Grimsby Town vs Bradford City
Blundell Park

Most Recent Results:

1: Bradford City 3 – 0 Stevenage
2: Bradford City 2 – 2 AFC Wimbledon
3: Harrogate Town 1 – 2 Bradford City
4: Bradford City 0 – 1 Stockport County
5: Salford City 0 – 1 Bradford City

Form: WLWDW

1: Grimsby Town 1 – 2 Swindon Town
2: Grimsby Town 1 – 2 Carlisle United
3: Salford City 1 – 1 Grimsby Town
4: Grimsby Town 3 – 0 Crawley Town
5: Stockport County 1 – 3 Grimsby Town

Form: WWDLL

Head-to-Head Results:

Head-to-Head Form:

13 Feb 2010: Bradford City 0 – 0 Grimsby Town
10 Aug 2019: Grimsby Town (Hanson 66) 1 – 1 (Vaughan 53) Bradford City
08 Feb 2020: Bradford City (Novak 80) 1 – 1 (Hendrie 90+2) Grimsby Town
22 Dec 2020: Grimsby Town (Clifton 49) 1 – 2 (Novak 21, Sutton 45) Bradford City
10 Apr 2021: Bradford City (A O'Connor 42) 1 – 0 (Payne 45+2 [Red]) Grimsby Town

Head-to-Head Results (All Time):

Won: 29
Drawn: 16
Lost: 18

Biggest Margin of Victory:

20 Apr 1955: Bradford City 4 – 0 Grimsby Town
01 Feb 1969: Grimsby Town 1 – 5 Bradford City
09 Jan 1979: Grimsby Town 5 – 1 Bradford City

Spoiler: Historic Results Analysis

This has been an enjoyable fixture for Bradford City throughout the years, with City having beaten Grimsby Town on 46 % of occasions, despite losing the first ever clash 2-0 way back in 1903.

In recent decades, results have been extremely lopsided in Bradford City's favour. Grimsby Town have failed to beat Bradford City in any of their least 16 encounters in any competition, a run dating back to 02 Jan 1999, when both clubs were established Division 1 (Championship level) sides. While Grimsby Town did manage 5 draws in this period, the 11 defeats will not sit well with the Mariners, who might feel they have a point to prove against Mark Hughes' Bradford City now that they are back in the Football League!

It historical results were a reliable omen, then, this one should go to The Bantams – however, given that City themselves have beaten several sides with positive records in terms of historical results, we know first hand things aren't that straight forward...

Grimsby Town 2022/23:

Paul Hurst, once strongly linked with the vacant managerial position at Bradford City, took over Grimsby Town in December 2020 but was unable to arrest their slide as they dropped through the League Two trapdoor and into non league. While some Bradford City fans, who had seen their side also struggling that season, felt they had avoided a bullet of sorts, Grimsby Town's tenure in the National League Premier lasted just one season – Hurst's men bouncing back at the first opportunity via the play offs, having finished 6th in the table. City, meanwhile, orchestrated a short-lived experiment with Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars taking over after making a good start in the post-McCall era. Bradford City survived.

Fast forward to 22/23, and Grimsby Town are nipping at the heels of the League Two play off places, 2 points behind 5th placed Bradford City (and also 2 points behind 7th placed Salford City). Grimsby's defence has been key to their current standing in 10th place, conceding the same number as City – 11 in total. Their strike force has not been quite as prolific, however, scoring 2 fewer, but in terms of results the only difference has been Bradford City converting 1 of Grimsby's draws into a victory. Tight it most definitely is.

Grimsby Town didn't get off to the best start this season, losing their opening fixture 2-0 at Leyton Orient, then drawing their first home game of the season 1-1 against Northampton Town. A run of 4 wins, 2 draws from their next 6 games dragged them up the table, however back-to-back home defeats against Swindon Town and Carlisle United, followed by a 1-1 draw at Salford City, ensured that Grimsby Town had failed to beat any team currently in the top half of League Two this season. Wins over Crawley Town at home and Stockport County away continued their dominance against sides from the bottom half.

Bradford City will look to ensure that Grimsby Town do not buck the trend at Blundell Park this Saturday.

A 5 goal haul from Harry Clifton is the stand out for The Mariners, with stalwart striker Ryan Taylor the club's second highest goalscorer on 3. Gavin Holohan opened his account in the 3-0 win at home to Crawley, and followed it up in their most recent game against Stockport County, quickly establishing him as the club's third highest scorer with 2. He will look to score in his third consecutive game this weekend.

Grimsby Town have been incredibly consistent in their most recent games, with 38-39 % possession across each of their last 3 league games. That did not prevent Grimsby from winning 3-0, 3-1 and drawing 1-1, registering the most shots on goal in all three games.

This economy of possession is a slight downturn from previous league games, where they were closer to 50-50 in terms of ball retention, but has equally seen Grimsby Town at their most dangerous in front of goal. Bradford City will no doubt be mindful of this, as Grimsby rely on the pace of players like Harry Clifton to quickly hurt teams, with fast, flowing counter attacks the most frequent danger for opponents.

Despite their good recent results, Grimsby Town have ridden their luck at times at the back, and have relied on goalkeeper Max Crocombe more than perhaps they might like.

Bradford City 2022/23:

Andy Cook continued his incredible run of form this season by securing a very impressive 1-0 away win at Salford City. That win lifts Mark Hughes' side above their Greater Manchester-based rivals on goal difference, and up to 5th place. This was a great response to a disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Stockport County, their first home loss of the season.

It also marked Bradford City's 4th successive away league win, establishing the Bantams (4-0-2) as one of the division's most successful teams away from home – Grimsby Town are one of just three sides with a better away record (5-1-1). But at home, Grimsby Town (1-3-2) have not been nearly as good – and The Bantams might expect to compound matters for Paul Hurst, as well as extend their winless run against teams in the top half of League Two.

If they do, Andy Cook will hope to be the man of the hour once again – but Bradford City fans might be slightly concerned that they have managed just 1 goal in their last 2 league outings. Now is not the time for Bradford City to lose their nerve in front of goal, even if Andy Cook continues to rack up his personal goal tally.

Something to prove, then, perhaps for Bradford City. With Dion Pereira having largely disappointed since his return on loan from Luton Town, chances may be afforded to someone else to try and bolster the City attack – but that will be down to the manager's personal preference come the weekend, and with many of the second string having failed to impress in a 4-0 defeat at Burton Albion in the Football League Trophy, it's hard to say for sure. Abo Eisa's return is likely too soon, though Lee Angol get find himself brought back into the fold.

Recent Highlights:

Stockport County 1 – 3 Grimsby Town

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Grimsby Town 3 – 0 Crawley Town



Salford City 0 - 1 Bradford City



Bradford City 0 – 1 Stockport County



Outlook:

A Grimsby Town home win has been installed as the most likely outcome by the bookmakers, but not all the evidence supports that idea. As mentioned, Grimsby Town have not beaten any team in the top half of League Two this season in any league fixture, and their home form has been mediocre at best.

Bradford City, like Grimsby, have made good several times on their travels, and will definitely not look at Blundell Park as a fortress. Still, there are always games that buck trends, and perhaps Grimsby's impressive 3-0 home win against Crawley Town recently was just that – the start of a new, improved run of home performances.

If that's the case, Bradford City will have to be at their best at the back, as Grimsby's fast, flowing counter attacking style has caught out several teams already this season, even sides like Bradford City that tend to enjoy the majority of possession. Such statistics are not the bane of Paul Hurt's time at Grimsby, as his side have generally been able to respond without seeing so much of the ball.

Still, Bradford City have shown a propensity for fluid counter attacks themselves, even in games where they have seen a lot of the ball – and striker Andy Cook has been able to mix it up, scoring from open play and set pieces alike. Grimsby Town will have their work cut out trying to keep their former centre forward quiet. Cook played 73 times for Grimsby in 2012-14, scoring 14 times – but the hitman is on course to beat that in one season alone, having already notched 10 league goals for Bradford City, as well as adding 3 more in the cups. Fearsome stuff.

Leaning on the longer term trends, then, leads me to the conclusion that Bradford City are the likely winners, and 2-1 is the likeliest scoreline – Bradford City have managed this winning scoreline 5 times in all competitions this season, have suffered a pair of 2-1 defeats at home – both against opposition in the top half of League Two.

Odds:

13/10: Grimsby Town
23/10: Draw
2/1: Bradford City

Predicted Outcome (THE VOICE):

Grimsby Town 1-2 Bradford City