Preview: Bradford City (A)

28 January 2020

Ten days after last running out on the turf at The Alexandra Stadium against Crewe, Cheltenham Town return to League Two action this evening with a trip to Bradford City (kick-off: 7.45pm).

An unbeaten run away from home that stretched all the way back to September finally came to an end in that last outing at Crewe, and this evening represents a good opportunity to restart another run against the Bantams who are one place and two points ahead in the table having played two games more.

Tonight's opposition haven't won in their last five league games, but despite that boast the second best home record in the division behind league leaders Swindon Town who have played one home game more than them.

It's another bruising challenge in what's sure to be a dramatic second half of the season but Cheltenham will travel to the Utilita Stadium tonight hoping to make it a season double over Bradford having recorded three points over them back in September.

Team news

Forward pair Luke Varney and Reuben Reid are fit and ready to be involved following injury lay-offs.

They join a squad that is otherwise missing goalkeeper Scott Flinders - who will miss the remainder of the campaign as he recovers from a broken leg.

Watch Michael Duff's press conference ahead of the game below:

On his return to fitness Luke Varney has also been previewing this evening's clash.

Opposition

Former top flight side Bradford City may not have been in the best run of form of late, but their home record this season shows they are a very difficult side to get past on home soil.

New goalkeeping addition Luke McGee has signed on loan this month from Portsmouth and is the likely starter with the gloves for them tonight.

In front of him their defence features the likes of Ben Richards-Everton, who has won promotion out of this division before with Accrington Stanley, and Wales international Adam Henley who has two caps to his name having spent the first part of his career with Blackburn Rovers. Non-league product Connor Wood could also be involved.

The Bantams midfield may feature the likes of Jake Reeves, Peterborough United loanee Callum Cooke, and another loanee who knows this level very well in the shape of Jamie Devitt. He's with Bradford on a temporary deal from Blackpool who snapped him up from Carlisle United at the end of last season.

At the top of the pitch their forward line boasts a number of big names at this level. Northern Ireland international Shay McCartan helped Lincoln City gain promotion from this league last season having been on loan from Bradford, while Eoin Doyle has notably been back in their colours after his loan at Swindon came to an end this month.

Former Everton hit man James Vaughan is their leading goal scorer, though he's not featured in their last two matches, and the sizeable Clayton Donaldson can prove awkward to deal with for defenders - he was representing Bolton Wanderers in the Championship last term.

In Gary Bowyer they have an experienced head in charge. He's won promotion from this level before while in charge of Blackpool and has also spent time as manager at Blackburn Rovers following a playing career cut short due to injury which took in time at Nottingham Forest and Rotherham, having started with current Hellenic Premier Division leaders Westfields in Herefordshire before making the short move to Hereford United as his first senior club.

Last meeting

Ben Tozer scored a late headed winner to earn Cheltenham three points over Bradford back in September.

All five goals in a 3-2 win came in the second half with Bradford getting the first through Jermaine Anderson as they broke from a Robins corner on the counter-attack.

Bristol Rovers loanee Gavin Reilly levelled with a well-taken finish minutes later, and the Robins then took the lead when Jake Doyle-Hayes hammered in for his first goal for the club.

Bradford were back on level terms on 76 minutes however. Ben Richards-Everton headed home a Harry Pritchard free kick to draw parity.

But there was to be one late twist as Tozer's glancing header flew in past Richard O'Donnell to secure an excellent home win.

Watch the highlights from that game:

Tickets

The ticket office is open this morning selling tickets for the game. Advance ticket prices are:

Adult £20
Senior (60+)/Student £15
U16 £10
U11 £5

These rise in price if you are buying on the night.

Supporters booked on the Travel Club coach are reminded that it leaves for the game at 2pm from the Jonny-Rocks Stadium.

Watch on iFollow

You can check out full match coverage of tonight's fixture by watching online with iFollow.

All you have to do is purchase a match pass in advance for £10 and you can check out the whole game on whatever device you prefer to use.

Coverage

On social media follow the game this evening by following @CTFCofficial on Twitter. Score updates and team news will also be available on Facebook at facebook.com/ctfcofficial.

Watch tonight's full match coverage online on iFollow by purchasing a match pass.

After the game visit the club website to read a match report and to see reaction from manager Michael Duff to the result.

Highlights will be available on iFollow and on the club's YouTube channel post-match.

Match Reports

Report & highlights: Bradford City 1-1 Robins

28 January 2020

Apologies, this video is unvailable.

Alfie May's third goal in four appearances earned Cheltenham Town a hard fought point at Valley Parade this evening.

The January signing's strike six minutes from time was no more than Michael Duff's side deserved after a fractious contest in Bradford.

The key moment of the evening arrived on the stroke of half-time when Jamie Devitt picked up his second yellow card in 20 first half minutes to leave the Bantams with a numerical disadvantage for more than half the game.

By that point they had led through Clayton Donaldson's controversial penalty inside the opening 11 minutes at League Two's most imposing venue.

The Robins went on to dominate the second period but the Bantams defended manfully until the late goal that earned a share of the spoils this performance deserved.

The partisan crowd was boisterous throughout and created an atmosphere for a feisty battle in tricky West Yorkshire conditions.

Gary Bowyer's side have struggled of late but four of their last five games have come away from home, where they have a decent record.

Duff made two changes to the side that were defeated by Crewe Alexandra 10 days ago. In came Jake Doyle-Hayes and Tahvon Campbell for Chris Clements and Alex Addai. Luke Varney made a welcome return from injury and took his place on the bench.

The home side are now winless in six matches but they made the early running here after Doyle-Hayes was adjudged to have upended Clayton Donaldson inside 11 minutes.

It certainly looked harsh and replays appeared to show minimal contact but nevertheless the skipper dispatched the penalty with aplomb, cooly sending it down the middle with Owen Evans diving to his left.

The home faithful were roused by their side's strong start and cheered their side into every tackle in the opening exchanges but Cheltenham stuck to their task and grew into the game as the first half progressed.

May shaved the upright on the half-hour, meeting Doyle-Hayes' cross from the left with a decent half-volley but the lively striker missed the target by a better of inches.

Two minutes before the break they fashioned their best chance of the half when Sean Long swapped passes with Connor Thomas on the edge of the box before the Irishman dragged his left footed effort a couple of feet wide of the right post.

The first half had been keenly contested and the referee had already brandished a yellow card to Devitt midway through before a meaty challenge on Charlie Raglan on the stroke of half-time, a tackle that earned the midfielder his marching orders.

Cheltenham then took the game to the Bantams in the second half and dominated the contest for the remaining 45 minutes.

Ben Tozer was pushed into a more advanced position after the restart and saw a dipping volley travel wide in the open exchanges of the second half.

Luke Varney was also pressed into action, replacing Campbell in the 54th minute and almost scored with his first touch but Luke McGee saved the effort from a tight angle. Alex Addai came on for Thomas a couple of moments later

But despite having almost all of the possession the first real chance fell 10 minutes from the end when Doyle-Hayes curled one from 18 yards out, an effort easily held by McGee.

The Robins though were level with six minutes to play through May's goal and it was no more than they deserved. Max Sheaf called McGee into a smart stop but the diminutive striker was on hand to lash the loose ball home from a tight angle.

Luke Varney and Sheaf had chances deep into injury time to claim all the points but neither really tested the Bradford number one and the spoils were therefore shared.

BRADFORD CITY (4-4-2): McGee; Mellor (Henley 59), O'Connor, Richards-Everton, Wood; McCartan (Taylor 62), Cooke, Devitt; Connolly, Donaldson (c) (Oteh 62). Subs not used: Sykes-Kenworthy (Gk), Pritchard, Reeves, Patrick.

CHELTENHAM TOWN (3-5-2): Evans; Raglan, Tozer (c), Greaves; Long (Boyle 86), Doyle-Hayes, Thomas (Addai 66), Sheaf, Hussey; May, Campbell (Varney 54). Subs not used: Lapworth (Gk), Clements, Debayo, Ince.

REFEREE: S Stockbridge

ATTENDANCE: 12,731 (126 from Cheltenham)

Ticket News

Tickets & travel: Bradford City

17 January 2020

Tickets and away travel for the upcoming fixture at Bradford City on Tuesday 28 January are available to purchase from the ticket office.

Cheltenham make the journey north to the Utilita Energy Stadium at Valley Parade for a 7.45pm kick-off against the Bantams.

It's the second of back-to-back away matches for the Robins, and another big test against a team eyeing an immediate return to League One.

When Bradford visited the Jonny-Rocks Stadium earlier in the season a late header from Ben Tozer sealed three points in an entertaining 3-2 win.

Ticket prices for the match when bought in advance are:

Adult £20
Senior (60+)/Student £15
U16 £10
U11 £5

The Travel Club coach leaves for the game from 2pm.

A seat on the coach is £18/£16 for members and £20/£18 for non-members plus £8 for Junior Robins.

Fans are advised that tickets for away matches bought from the CTFC ticket office see 5% of sales go to the club.

The ticket office is open from 10am to 3pm on a Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

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