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The countdown to Bradford
Tuesday
Bradford have won just one game from the last 11 league games, the Bantams started 2020 in fourth place in League Two, six points away from top spot but have since dropped to ninth, four points away from a play-off position. Despite the poor results Bradford have lost just two home games all season, winning 10 and drawing five and haven't lost a league game at Valley Parade since October when Port Vale won 2-1.
Stuart McCall was appointed Bradford manager for a third time at the start of February, succeeding Gary Bowyer, and has already spoken about Saturday's game ...
Argyle have played 27 times at Valley Parade, winning nine games, drawing nine and losing nine.
Carl Boyeson is the man in the middle for the game, so far this season he has issued 62 yellow cards and three reds in 22 games. He was last in charge of an Argyle game in December 2018 when the Pilgrims won 2-1 at Rochdale. He will be assisted on Saturday by Andrew Dallison and Barry Gordon while the fourth official is Matt Dicicco.
Bradford yesterday sacked winger Tyrell Robinson for committing gross misconduct. The 22-year old had been suspended by the club since August 2018 after allegations of sexual assault, he's now been charged by the police with child sex offences and will appear in court in April.
Bradford City fan Mike Harrison, editor of fanzine The City Gent, has kindly agreed to give Pasoti users an insight into his club with a Q&A ....
Q: What are your thoughts on Bradford's season so far?
A: The early season form that saw the Bantams in contention for the top three places in League Two have faded to the point where even finishing in the top 7 for the play-offs isn't looking like it will happen. To say Bradford City fans are disappointed is a massive understatement.
Q: What are your views on the re-appointment of Stuart McCall?
A: For Gary Bowyer his pragmatic tactics which at the start of the season were very effective in gaining points without entertaining the fans. But as the pitches became heavier once autumn to turned to the wet winter that we're having, plus injuries and illnesses especially over Christmas saw his tactics have no plan B. From being hard to beat suddenly the team became pushovers away from home and his time at Valley Parade became untenable given the vitriol shown towards him at sucessive 3-0 away defeats at Mansfield and Oldham. The re-appointment of Stuart McCall after 2 years of being away from Valley Parade has been welcomed by Bradford City fans and I can't think of a better person out there who could come in and bring back the passion that has been sorely missed since his unjust sacking in February 2018.
Q: Given the recent financial problems and ownership issues of lower league clubs are Bradford in a stable state at the moment?
A: We seem to be ok at the moment as we seem to have overcome the troubles we had last season.
Q: Of particular interest to football fans is the £150 cost of a season ticket at Bradford, is this business model still working financially for the club?
A: This season is the 13th year of the discounted season tickets and it still works well for us. I know Plymouth we’re thinking of adopting a similar policy but I don’t think they implemented it. Valley Parade is a big stadium and needs a large crowd of fans to create an atmosphere. Despite relegation last season we are averaging over 14K this season due to the £150 season ticket policy.
Q: What are your expectations and predicted finishing position in League Two for this season?
A: I'd like to think at some point Stuart McCall will be able to find the missing spark that this squad has been capable of producing, but with now just 11 games left to play, the team are going to have to do something they've failed to do for months and this is to string a run of 3 or 4 successive wins together just to get back into play-off contention.
Q: Without giving too much away what style of football and formation are Bradford likely to use against Argyle?
A: At the moment it is not easy to predict how Bradford City will play, they are almost beyond analysis. Stuart McCall is still getting to know the players that he has inherited. He does have a decent 11 players in the squad, it is just a matter of finding out which ones they are.
Q: Looking from afar what are your views on Plymouth Argyle?
A: Another club who had a poor season last year and is getting used to being in League Two again. Also, another well supported club that ought to be playing at a higher level, but like Bradford City they have to work hard to earn promotion. I fully expect them to be at least challenging for the play offs at the very least.
Q: Finally do you have a prediction for the game?
A: A rip roaring affair with lots of goals.
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Bradford have lodged a formal complaint to the FA regarding offensive chanting and abusive language used at the Newport County game last Saturday .... club statement
Wednesday
According to Sky Bet Argyle are favourites to win with odds of 7/5, a Bradford win is placed at 9/5 and the draw is on offer at 11/5.
Bradford have the highest average home attendance in League Two at 14,255, the highest crowd was earlier this month at 17,668 for the visit of Grimsby Town.
Last season in League One 554 Argyle fans made the long trip to Valley Parade.
The 660 mile round trip is the third longest of this season.
In the history of the club Argyle have played just four times on 29 February; winning one game and losing three in the leap years of 1904, 1908, 1964 and 1992.
Green Army Guide to Bradford
Pubs for away fans
Bradford Arms on Manningham Lane is about two minutes from the ground and is welcoming to away fans.
Cartwright Hotel on Manningham Road is 10 minutes from the stadium, also Corn Dolly on Bolton Road is 10 minutes away.
Near to Bradford Forster Square Station on North Parade is the Sparrow Bier Bar. The Record Café on North Parade is on the way to the ground and has a mix of home and away fans. Also on North Parade is the Peacock Bar.
Thursday
Inside Bradford City
Preview of the matchday programme .... Bradford club website
From Ryan Lowe's pre-match press conference..
Match preview ... Bradford club website
Bradford manager Stuart McCall looks ahead to the game ....
Ticket update, pay on the available .... club website
Bradford striker Lee Novak looks ahead to the game .. club website
Friday
Bradford assistant manager Kenny Black gave an update on the Bantams injury situation...
Bantam Stats
Match preview ... Telegraph and Argus
The Bradford Season
Match preview .... Bradford club website
Argyle fans have snapped 764 tickets
The Bradford guide to Argyle ... Bradford club website
Preview video from Argyle ..... club website
Saturday
Bradford assistant manager Kenny Black talks about the game ... Bradford club website
Bradford Archives
Bradford announce a cautionary pitch inspection at 10.30am.
There will be another pitch inspection at 1pm. A video of the first pitch inspection .... Twitter
The referee has given the game the go ahead.
Team line-up ...
