The Voice - Match preview Harrogate Town vs Bradford City 23rd March 2024 1:00pm

EFL LEAGUE TWO FIXTURE #39

Saturday 23rd March 2024 13:00
Harrogate Town (14th) vs Bradford City (17th)
The EnviroVent Stadium (AKA Wetherby Road)

22/23 Results:

05 Nov 2022: Bradford City 0 – 1 Harrogate Town [FA Cup]
29 Dec 2022: Bradford City 1 – 0 Harrogate Town
16 Sep 2023: Bradford City 1 – 1 Harrogate Town

Head-to-Head Form: DWLWL (most recent result first)

Won: 2
Drawn: 1
Lost: 5

Current League Form:

Bradford City: LLLWD
Harrogate Town: DDLDL

HARROGATE TOWN

Harrogate Town were on fine form throughout December, January, and part of February, when they won 7, drew 2, and lost just 1 game across 10 league fixtures. Then came the ill-fated trip to Field Mill.

Harrogate Town walked away from Mansfield with their tails tucked firmly between their legs on the back of a 9-2 hiding. Ironically, the team appear to have since gone into hiding, too, as their form completely disintegrated with 0 wins in any of the 7 games that followed. Goals have dropped off entirely, too: Harrogate Town have managed just 3 goals in those 7 games since the Mansfield mauling, but only one contributed to a point: former Bantam Anthony O’Connor netting in a 1-1 draw at Swindon Town.

Back-to-back 0-0’s has made it 4 draws and 4 defeats in their last 8. It’s not been scintillating stuff, but perhaps Harrogate Town are slowly stopping the rot by avoiding defeat – in any event, they come in on ‘better form’ than Notts County did prior to dismantling the hapless Bantams 3-0 on Tuesday evening. That might be a crumb of comfort to Simon Weaver and his plucky overachievers, but getting back to winning ways is the only way to improve morale.

One of the smallest clubs in the EFL, Harrogate Town currently sit ahead of Bradford City in the League Two table by 1 point and 3 places – though that probably speaks as much about Bradford City’s abysmal campaign as it does about Harrogate’s ability to compete above their assumed level.

Unfortunately, the omens aren’t suggesting that Saturday afternoon will produce much of an exciting affair as both sides come into this tie horribly off-form. Harrogate Town’s winless run has been much longer than City’s, but the nature of the now-multiple capitulations on home soil are arguably even more concerning. The non-performance of Graham Alexander’s men lately cannot go unnoticed.

Midfielder George Thomson (11) is easily Harrogate Town’s most potent threat. Their top scorer, Thomson’s longest dry spell this campaign has been 5 games without a goal. A consistent goalscorer and threat, then, Thomson is backed up by the likes of Jack Muldoon (9) and Abraham Odoh (6), though no other Harrogate Town player has managed more then 3 league goals this campaign. It may or may not be a surprise, then, that Harrogate Town have scored fewer goals than Bradford City this campaign, whilst also conceding more.

Perhaps it’s only right, then, that Harrogate Town come into this fixture as significant underdogs – but then, the betting market is likely dictated by irrelevances like share of the betting market. With a capacity of 5,000, the EnviroVent Stadium is not only small, but also usually only half full. It’s a natural assumption that they will have fewer backers at betting offices.

The two things that Harrogate Town have going for them is a stellar record in head-to-head competition ever since their promotion to the EFL, and the fact Bradford City have dropped off a proverbial cliff. While the same was true of the Sulphurites up to a couple of weeks ago, they seem to have shored up their defence enough to record back-to-back clean sheets.

BRADFORD CITY

For a squad that supposedly offers more quantity than quality, Bradford City’s options suddenly seem threadbare. There don’t seem to be many options along the back line, and Graham Alexander resorted to playing a back 3 consisting mostly of converted full backs – or in Daniel Oyegoke’s case, a converted wing back – on Tuesday. It was no wonder the back line looked so unbalanced and ineffective against Notts County, but the fact the Nottinghamshire side came into Tuesday evening’s tie on horrendous form means the 3-0 scoreline still stings a great deal.

On the back of a defeat to strugglers Forest Green and a mauling at the hands of Mansfield Town (at least both Bradford City and Harrogate Town have that in common this season), the capitulation in front of a largely empty Valley Parade saw the mood surrounding the club plummet to even greater depths. Graham Alexander promised a response to the Mansfield Town game. He didn’t get one.

Still, the trip to Harrogate Town comes at a time when the majority of Bradford City’s remaining league fixtures are away days – potentially less hostile and soul-destroying, though only if performances don’t continue in the same vein. While City’s away following is typically passionate and supportive, they will likely not tolerate another shocker, especially against a local rival whose very presence in League Two serve as a stark reminder that Bradford City are not living up to their potential.

Graham Alexander restored Brad Halliday and Andy Cook to the starting XI at Notts County after his puzzling decision to omit both for the Mansfield Town game, but two players he will not be able to restore are Jon Tomkinson and Calum Kavanagh, both out for a second successive game after being called up for international duty. Hopefully Matty Platt will be available for a start, replacing one of the back line of Ridehalgh-Kelly-Oyegoke which did not work at all on Tuesday evening. Even though Ridehalgh was hauled off after just 26 minutes in the shambolic effort against Mansfield Town, the career left back played all 90 minutes against Notts County, giving no clear indication of how Platt might replace – though it’s absolutely clear Platt is a must-start if fit enough for kick off.

One player that has looked lively in substitute cameos lately is Harry Chapman, and he may be required to start on Saturday afternoon after the extremely dependable Alex Gilliead limped off on Tuesday evening – alternatively, veteran midfielder Kevin McDonald may be called upon to stamp his substantial expertise in a central midfield area that has been overrun all to often lately.

Whatever line up Graham Alexander opts for, all expectations will be on a much, much improved performance.

THE BREAKDOWN

5/2: Harrogate Town
5/2: Draw
11/10: Bradford City

The above odds might look like nonsense, but the hope is Bradford City get back to winning ways away from home. For all their woes at Valley Parade – and the recent 3-game losing run at home was genuinely appalling – their last result on the road was a resounding 3-0 win over an out-of-sorts Accrington Stanley. Prior to that, they beat Wrexham 1-0 away from home in a spirited performance, meaning the Bantams have won their last 2 away games.

Some small comfort, perhaps, for a side that have now likely surrendered any remaining chance of a run at the play offs. Playing for pride will be the order of the day, though there was little pride evident in any of the ties against Forest Green Rovers, Mansfield Town or Notts County.

That Harrogate Town have the 4th worst home record is another cause for optimism for Bantams fans. Having lost 10 of their 18 fixtures at the EnviroVent stadium, it’s clear the Sulphurites are beatable on their own patch – even more so than City! The Bantams also possess the 10th best away record in the division, although in truth it’s not actually any better than their home record all told – it’s just that sides are traditionally expected to win more at home than they do away!

But if a dark cloud currently hangs over Valley Parade, there’s no reason to think Harrogate Town are any more comfortable at their own ground, either. Both sides will be looking to make the most of any lingering nerves or discomfort based on their respective poor form. With no real reason to expect a glut of goals, the pick here will be a 0-0, as both sides focus just a little too much on defensive solidity in an effort to right some recent wrongs.

PREDICTION:

Harrogate Town 0 – 0 Bradford City