Preview: Bradford City (H)

17 September 2019

Cheltenham Town face the first of two matches in a week against teams who were plying their trade in League One last season this evening when Bradford City are the visitors to the Jonny-Rocks Stadium (kick-off: 7.45pm).

Fresh off the back of Saturday's excellent away win at Salford City, Michael Duff's troops will be looking to put on another good performance as they chase another positive result at home.

Bradford will provide tough competition in what is a 6th against 7th encounter under the lights this evening.

Buy your tickets on the night at the turnstiles and get behind the Robins for the team's ninth league game of the campaign.

Team news

Jake Doyle-Hayes made a welcome return from international duty on Saturday and is expected to feature again tonight.

Will Boyle is back in training but isn't fit enough yet to be involved, while Reuben Reid, Rohan Ince and Josh Debayo are the others to miss out with injury issues. Max Sheaf is edging closer to fitness.

Watch Michael Duff's pre-match press conference discussing the game.

Opposition

Much like the Robins, Bradford go into tonight's game following back-to-back league wins. They had an own goal from Lewis Kinsella help them to an away win at Walsall on Saturday as they look to bounce back to the third tier at the first attempt.

The man leading them into trying to do that is experienced manager Gary Bowyer. Having already had spells as a boss at Blackpool and Blackburn Rovers, the 48-year-old has been tasked with helping them attempt to get back into League One.

To do that he has a squad that includes a number of individuals who have already enjoyed impressive careers in the Football League.

Attacking duo James Vaughan and Clayton Donaldson have a huge amount of experience between them, while behind them midfield loanees Matt Palmer and Dylan Connolly are in from Rotherham and AFC Wimbledon, with former Blackpool winger Harry Pritchard also a threat for them moving forward.

Defender Ben Richards-Everton, who won promotion from this level with Accrington Stanley a couple of seasons ago, provides leadership at the back. Limerick born Paudie O'Connor is meanwhile an up and coming defender who was recruited from Yorkshire rivals Leeds United.

In between the posts they can turn to the experience of Richard O'Donnell. The 31-year-old started his career at Sheffield Wednesday and has also represented the likes of Walsall and Bristol City.

Previous meetings

The Bantams hold the edge in all competitions when it comes to the 11 previous meetings between the two teams.

Bradford have claimed five victories, including one in the Checkatrade Trophy, while Cheltenham have recorded three wins - all coming consecutively between December 2010 and April 2012.

On three occasions meetings have ended in a draw. The first two fixtures between the two were in the 2006/07 League One season when Bradford won 2-1 at Whaddon Road and the two then met again later in the season to draw 2-2 at Valley Parade.

Tickets

Buy tickets for tonight's game on the turnstiles. All areas of the stadium are open while the ticket office is also open before the match for collections and for fans who want to buy tickets for upcoming games, including for this Saturday's trip to Plymouth Argyle.

Tickets bought in advance for the Colin Farmer Stand can be collected from the collection point at this part of the stadium.

The club shop is open before kick-off too selling merchandise and match programmes.

Match programme

The programme for tonight's game is jam-packed with interviews and features. Jacob Greaves is the big interview, while George Lloyd and Charlie Raglan join under-18s defender Isaac Lawrence in expressing their thoughts.

Max Sheaf and Scott Flinders also feature, while you can read the latest from chairman Andy Wilcox and manager Michael Duff previewing the fixture.

Coverage

Keep a track of events by following @CTFCofficial on Twitter. You can see the team news, keep an eye on the match and check out match photos throughout the night. Goal and score updates will also be available on Facebook.

Tonight's game is being broadcast on iFollow. You can pay a £10 match pass fee to watch the game.

It's also possible to listen to commentary on iFollow this evening.

Match Reports

Report & highlights: Robins 3-2 Bradford City

17 September 2019

Apologies, this video is unvailable.

Cheltenham Town won in another thrilling Sky Bet League Two match at the Jonny Rocks-Stadium by beating Bradford by three goals to two.

Goals from Gavin Reilly and Jake Doyle-Hayes cancelled out Jermaine Anderson’s opener before Ben Richards-Everton’s headed equaliser.

Ben Tozer scored the winner in another exciting match at home for the Robins, who continued their fine start to the season and made it 15 home games without defeat.

Cheltenham started the better of the two sides and the man in form Ryan Broom almost scored inside seven minutes, but his powerful effort from the edge was well kept out by Richard O’Donnell.

Wing-back Chris Hussey got forward at every opportunity and almost scored from a tight angle midway through the first half, but he flashed a cross-shot just over the bar.

Moments later Hussey almost turned provider when his set piece found Tozer but he could only head wide on the stretch.

The Robins continued to dominate possession, albeit in their own half as the Bradford press worked in suffocating the home side.

Veteran Luke Varney had his first chance ten minute before half-time when Doyle-Hayes‘ cross found him a few yards out but he just miss-kicked it in front of the posts.

Moments later and the Robins fans had hearts in mouths when Clayton Donaldson beared down on goal, but the experienced forward fluffed his lines with the simplest of chances.

Bradford looked dangerous from corners in the first half and Flinders made a great save from Richards-Everton’s far post header.

Robins almost took an early first half lead, Sean Long found striker Reilly before the striker cushioned the ball onto Varney, whose half-volleyed snapshot flashed wide of the right-hand post.

Bradford scored with a swift counter attack on 50 minutes, James Vaughan put Donaldson through on goal before he found Anderson at the far post, who scrambled it in past Flinders and Doyle-Hayes.

But Reilly equalised for Cheltenham after Broom twisted and turned on the edge of the box and slid the Scottish striker through, before he powered it into the net with his left boot.

And 20 minutes from time, a long throw was cleared to the edge of the box and Doyle-Hayes slammed it home on the volley for his first career goal.

Bradford found an equaliser on 75 minutes when Richards-Everton, who had threatened all evening long from set pieces, rose highest to nod it past Flinders.

However, Robins captain and man of the match, Tozer, would score a set-piece header of his own just five minutes later as he flicked Hussey’s in-swinger on into the roof of the net.

As the atmosphere in the stadium intensified, Vaughan saw a close-range header saved by Flinders after some last ditch defending from the Robins defenders who were starting to show some nerves.

ROBINS: Flinders, Long, Raglan, Tozer (c), Greaves, Hussey, Doyle-Hayes, Thomas (Bowry 88), Broom (Clements 75) Reilly (Addai 81), Varney.

Subs not used: Lovett, Campbell, Lloyd, Smith

BRADFORD CITY: O’Donnell, Mellor, Richards-Everton, O’Connor, Pritchard, Donaldson, Vaughan (c), Palmer, Anderson (Cooke 70), Connolly (Ismail 70), Wood.

Subs not used: O’Connor, Hornby, McCartan, Devine, Oteh.

REFEREE: Sam Purkiss

ATTENDANCE: 2,702 (289 away)

Ticket News

Tickets: Bradford City the visitors on Tuesday

16 September 2019

Buy tickets online ahead of Tuesday's home fixture with Bradford City at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium.

Following Saturday's excellent away win at Salford City Michael Duff's men are swiftly back into action with a home clash against the Bantams.

The match gets underway at 7.45pm against a side relegated out of League One at the end of last season, and who will be expecting to be pushing to get back into the third tier in the current campaign.

Tuesday is another opportunity for the Robins to extend their superb home form. It'll be a tight contest though against a Bradford team who are just one place below in the league table after eight games.

Tickets for Tuesday's match are available to buy online in advance.

They are also on sale from the ticket office from 10am on Tuesday. Fans can buy on the turnstiles too on the night.

Tickets and away travel for Saturday's away trip to Plymouth Argyle are also available from the ticket office.