| Bantams to experience avian flu at the feet of the imperious Super U's 20:24 - Mar 21 with 5844 views | durham_exile |
Now one look at the fixture tomorrow and we would see a league Two clash between two sides vying to get promotion to League One. Nothing spectacular in that, the game is only worth three points and defeat either way doesn’t signify the end of the road for one of these teams in that aim.
Or does it?
Football has this amazing knack of throwing up a game at the optimum possible time.
An International break so Sky Sports + have the rights to screen it at 3pm (steady Ed), the opportunity for the Bantams to offer a fiver a ticket including the hordes of Colchester fans (1000) who will travel to Valley Parade. A crowd of 22,000 plus in the University of Bradford Stadium AKA Valley Parade, the largest since the stadium was rebuilt, bigger even than our game there in March 2023 when I sat amongst the 20,383 to witness a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Bantams.
Earlier in the season a 99th minute equaliser from Jamie McDonnell gave us a deserved point against Bradford at the JCS.
But tomorrow it will be something special. Bradford have just lost to Gillingham and Tranmere both 1-0 and lost their 10 successive home victories on the trot record. We are unbeaten in 13 games and looking for our 6th successive victory (we last won 10 in a row between December 2005 and February 2006 and we know what happened in May 2006).
But forget about everything prior to this Saturday because it means nothing, we have won nothing yet. The important thing that matters is that we have 9 cup finals to play and only then can we look at the league table for the final reckoning.
Saturday 22 March 3pm Bradford Away – Sky Sports+
Friday 28 March 7:45pm Grimsby Home - Sky Sports+
Tuesday 1 April 7:45pm Gillingham Away - Sky Sports+
Saturday 5 April 3pm Notts Co Home
Saturday 12 April 3pm Newport Away
Friday 18 April 3pm Crewe Home – Sky Sports+
Monday 21 April 3pm Doncaster Away – Sky Sports+
Saturday 26 April 3pm Salford Away
Saturday 3 May 3pm Barrow Home
They can be the most important games since 2006 and DC and NC know that we are on the margins of achieving something special this season but it will not be defined by Valley Parade (although a victory will continue to shorten our promotion odds at the bookies).
Now DC is right to play down the game and to heap praise on the Bantams (but not too much). A big crowd can be intimidating for the Away contingent, but equally it can become a pressure cooker for the Home team. For long periods of that game in 2023 the stadium fell silent as Colchester threatened the Bantams goal and the tension was palpable. As I wrote earlier big crowds can also be a hindrance to the home side.
When we won at Sheffield Wednesday some years ago, the crowd became hostile to their home side as we demolished them 3-0.
One man who must stand strong tomorrow is the referee Mr Will Finnie from Luton. No homers please.
League Two table top seven:
Walsall 37 69
Bradford 36 66
Wimbledon 37 63
Doncaster Rovers 37 63
Notts Co 37 61
PV 36 61
COL U 37 58
The truth is that over the past three months we have crept under the radar and have not only closed the gap on those above us, but also have indicated that we have the right to be there amongst them.
Psychologically three points at Valley Parade gives us 61 points and places further pressure on those in the automatic positions. Graham Alexander knows all about pressure, he has seen it all in the game but so have the Cowleys. George Lapslie will also be a leading light for the Bantams tomorrow as will Sam Walker who might put his back out picking the ball out of the net!
The Bradford weather will be 14 degrees Celsius with light showers and light winds and some sunshine. The pitch will be challenging but we know all about that!!!!
It is unlikely that DC will make any changes to his starting XI:
Macey
Egbo Kells Flanagan Hunt
Read Iandolo
Anderson Payne Edwards
Taylor
Subs:
Smith Gordon Simpson Tucker Aboh Thorn Jolliffe
Much has been made of Bradford’s injury woes, but do not forget we are without Teddy Bishop, Samson Tovide and KVY and Jamie McDonnell is away on International duty.
It is possible that we might have Anthony Scully on the bench tomorrow, but we will see.
Now I have a ticket for the game, but it is unlikely that I will be able to make it. Sadly, I am unwell at present (and have been for some little time) and neither of my sons are available to drive me to the game. It is likely therefore that I will have to content myself with watching on Sky Sports +.
The faithful might be happy with that, I have been to 7 games this season and everyone has been a drawn encounter. I am very disappointed though not to be at VP.
The U’s can win tomorrow and will win tomorrow. 2-1 with Lyle Taylor on the mark with an Edwards classy long-range effort.
We do not need to fear the Bantams. A degree of respect yes of course, but we are there to show that we are not making up the numbers but deserve to be there on merit.
For those travelling, safe journey, enjoy the game and I will be cheering on the U’s from darkest Durham.
Don't forget your blue and white scarves.
Up the U’s
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| Bantams to experience avian flu at the feet of the imperious Super U's on 16:14 - Mar 24 with 549 views | RSCOSWORTH |
I reckon we decided to get rid of all of our mistakes, bad luck and poor performances all in one game. Bradford have the best home record in the division so it was always a free hit really. Time to forget about it and move on. Eight games to go. Five wins required, possibly four if we can beat both Grimsby and Crewe.
UP THE U'S!!! |  |
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| Bantams to experience avian flu at the feet of the imperious Super U's on 18:45 - Mar 24 with 456 views | wessex_exile |
| Bantams to experience avian flu at the feet of the imperious Super U's on 16:14 - Mar 24 by RSCOSWORTH |
I reckon we decided to get rid of all of our mistakes, bad luck and poor performances all in one game. Bradford have the best home record in the division so it was always a free hit really. Time to forget about it and move on. Eight games to go. Five wins required, possibly four if we can beat both Grimsby and Crewe.
UP THE U'S!!! |
Supporters are definitely voting with their feet, in a positive way. South Stand getting close to a sell-out already for Friday's game. |  |
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| Bantams to experience avian flu at the feet of the imperious Super U's on 11:15 - Mar 25 with 292 views | wessex_exile |
| Bantams to experience avian flu at the feet of the imperious Super U's on 18:45 - Mar 24 by wessex_exile |
Supporters are definitely voting with their feet, in a positive way. South Stand getting close to a sell-out already for Friday's game. |
S1 to S4 now sold out, just a handful of seats in S5 left. | |
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| Bantams to experience avian flu at the feet of the imperious Super U's on 11:34 - Mar 25 with 286 views | RSCOSWORTH |
| Bantams to experience avian flu at the feet of the imperious Super U's on 11:15 - Mar 25 by wessex_exile |
S1 to S4 now sold out, just a handful of seats in S5 left. |
And it's only Tuesday! Can't see Grimsby bringing many but it's looking like we might have over 5,000 on a Friday night. Maybe it will encourage the club to have more Friday night games going forward. Not sure if they're restricted by the league or have to get agreement from various different parties. | |
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| Bantams to experience avian flu at the feet of the imperious Super U's on 11:40 - Mar 25 with 283 views | wessex_exile |
| Bantams to experience avian flu at the feet of the imperious Super U's on 11:34 - Mar 25 by RSCOSWORTH |
And it's only Tuesday! Can't see Grimsby bringing many but it's looking like we might have over 5,000 on a Friday night. Maybe it will encourage the club to have more Friday night games going forward. Not sure if they're restricted by the league or have to get agreement from various different parties. |
On their Fishy Folk prediction thread for this game, the Grimbarians are all suggesting in the region of 450-550 travelling support. That'll be a pretty good turnout for a long trip on a Friday evening if it happens. | |
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| Bantams to experience avian flu at the feet of the imperious Super U's on 13:52 - Mar 25 with 233 views | RSCOSWORTH |
| Bantams to experience avian flu at the feet of the imperious Super U's on 11:40 - Mar 25 by wessex_exile |
On their Fishy Folk prediction thread for this game, the Grimbarians are all suggesting in the region of 450-550 travelling support. That'll be a pretty good turnout for a long trip on a Friday evening if it happens. |
That's pretty good going and certainly more than what I was expecting. They have been good on the road this season though, let's hope that's not the case on Friday. | |
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