Bradford - Scouting Report

The Bantams will be making their way to Meadow Lane on the 14^th of March, as they prepare to make a big for a return to a play-off space. However, the Yorkshire side will have other things on their minds which might benefit the Magpies. Notts County comes into the game with much fresher legs and a chance to use the game as a way to distance themselves from the drop.

For both teams this tie should be vastly important to both, so it should be a good game.

Bradford City are in decent form, they come into the game having won two, draw two and lost two within the league. Yet they have been playing quite well within the F.A Cup and set to play Reading in a replay after they drew 0-0 at the Valley Parade.

Run down of their last six games.

Wednesday 18^th February – Leyton Orient 0 Bradford City 2

Saturday 21^st February – Bradford City 1 Walsall 1

Tuesday 24^th February – Swindon Town 2 Bradford City 1

Saturday 28^th February – Peterborough United 2 Bradford City 0

Tuesday 3^rd March – Bradford City 1 Crawley Town 0

Tuesday 10^th March – Coventry City 1 Bradford City 1

The Players – Fact Sheet

Highest Goal Scorers; James Hanson 11, Billy Clarke 8, Jonathan Stead 8 and Filipe Morais 6.

Persistent Foulers; Jordan Pickford 2 Red Cards and 1 Yellow Card, Stephen Darby 1 Red Card and 4 Yellow Cards, Alan Sheehan 1 Red Card and 3 Yellow Cards and Gary Liddle 9 Yellow Cards.

The Key Players.

Rory McArdle, Stephen Darby Alan Sheehan, Gary Liddle, Francois Zoko, Billy Clarke and James Hanson are all pivotal players for Bradford City.

McArdle, Sheehan and Darby are the anchors within their defence, but offer just as much in their offensive play as they do at the back. They work well as a partnership, alerting each other of danger and link well with the Bantams midfield.

Gary Liddle and Francois Zoko offer flexibility to their forward play, whereas Liddle provides a similar role as he did with us within his first season.

Billy Clarke is a player who looks to get involved within the build up and can double up as a striker.

James Hanson is the dangerman, if he has a good game he will the most threat to our back four. He moves along the line, often alluding the opposition defence and pulling into exactly where he is required.

Style of Play, Strengths, and Weaknesses.

Bradford City balance their offensive play, with making sure that they're defensively sound. They aim to slowly build, whilst carving out those perfect chances which beg to be put a way. They play as a solid unit, making sure that the experienced heads are the foundation whilst mixing pace and fluid play in their attacks.

Their signings this season have greatly added depth to their play, which has seen them mix up how they break down games depending on who they face.

Sometimes it works well, other times not so much, but they're a very good side and have quickly adjusted back into life within League One. As a side who show quite a lot of resemblance to Rotherham United, especially within the foundations they laid out after gaining promotion.

The Bantams main strengths come from the quality players which they have, they look to build at the right time and this is well drilled into their players by Phil Parkinson. They have a mixed squad, with many of their senior players being the backbones of other successful League One and Two teams. This gives them that added depth, which has seen them been so successful in both the league and the English cups in recent years.

With regards to weaknesses, I see them struggling with pace and skill. If they start slowly, it can take them a while to get into the game. If sides directly hit them, they do buckle to pressure, but much of this falls down to how their midfield are set up and cope.

If we can move the ball quickly, whilst making sure that players are supported within their attacking phases this should provide Notts a decent chance at getting into the game.

However, if they close up shop at the back this could lead to a few issues which Notts must take any chances which present themselves.

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