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Match Previews

BIG MATCH PREVIEW: STEVENAGE v CITY

20 August 2019

Match Previews

BIG MATCH PREVIEW: STEVENAGE v CITY

20 August 2019

City take on Stevenage this evening, with the action getting underway from 7.45pm at the Lamex Stadium.

The Bantams will be looking to build on their unbeaten start to the season, having earned points against Cambridge, Grimsby and Oldham.

Opponents Stevenage sit 22nd in Sky Bet League Two, though drew last time out - at Leyton Orient - after suffering defeats to Salford and Exeter.

And, as the Bantams go in search of a second-straight victory, we have compiled a Big Match Preview packed full of everything you need to know...

TEAM NEWS

City: Gary Bowyer is expected to name a similar side to the one which defeated Oldham Athletic 3-0, on Saturday.

Shay McCartan made a long-awaited return to Bantams action and Paudie O’Connor was named on the bench, after starting in last week’s Carabao Cup game against Preston North End.

City boss Bowyer will make a late call on Jordan Gibson (hamstring), who has missed the last two games, though the Bantams came through otherwise unscathed on Saturday.

Stevenage: The travelling Bantams fans will likely see a familiar face this evening, with Paul Taylor set to line up against his former club.

Saturday’s goalless draw at Leyton Orient came at a price for tonight’s hosts, as centre halves Terence Vancooten and Scott Cuthbert suffered injuries.

Teenagers Luiz Fernandez and Kelland Watts are in line to again feature. They will be tasked with containing James Vaughan and Clayton Donaldson.

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAID

Gary Bowyer: “Like every team in this division, we have all brought new players in and it takes time for things to come together. For it to, you have to play football matches - and that is the exciting thing.

“I have seen us play well, in short spells, and now we have to put it together into longer periods of games.

“Stevenage are a very good team. They are fit and well organised. They lost two centre halves on Saturday and still kept a clean sheet, so we know what we are up against tonight.

“We just have to focus on ourselves and keep working on getting the ball to the frontmen. We are looking forward to the challenge but recognise it will be a tough one.”

Dino Maamria: “I motivate the players to put their bodies on the line.

“That is the spirit we have got, that is what we are about and that is why we got the clean sheet.

“Injuries happen in football, we will galvanise ourselves and move on.

“We have got a lot of new players on the pitch and things will get better 100 per cent.

“The work ethic, commitment of the players, self-confidence and belief is all there to see.”

LAST TIME OUT

City’s last meeting with Stevenage came in 2014.

Adam Reach gave the Bantams an early lead, before Francois Zoko replied 12 minutes later.

James Hanson moved City back in front - but Luke Freeman scored twice in as many minutes to seal victory for the away side.

Bradford City 2

Stevenage 3

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Saturday March 1, 2014

Attendance: 13,033

City: Jon McLaughlin; Stephen Darby, Carl McHugh, Andrew Davies (Matthew Bates 36’); Rory McArdle, Nathan Doyle, Adam Reach, Gary Jones (c), Garry Thompson (Mark Yeates 80’); James Hanson; Aaron Mclean (Andy Gary 81’). Subs (not used): Aaron Jameson, Chris Atkinson, Kyle Bennett, Matt Dolan.

GOALS: Reach (11’), Hanson (42’).

Oldham: Chris Day, Bira Dembele, Peter Hartley (Roarie Deacon 46’), Curtis Obeng, Jon Ashton, Darius Charles, Michael Doughty (Sam Wedgbury 90’), Jimmy Smith, Lucas Akins, Luke Freeman, Francois Zoko. Subs (not used): Jonathan Benteke, Sam Graham, Johan Branger, Ewan McFarlane. Subs (not used): Steve Arnold, Luke Jones, John Mousinho, Dean Parrett, Jordan Burrow.

GOALS: Zoko (23’), Freeman (65’, 66’).

MATCH OFFICIALS

Christopher Pollard is undertaking his first season as an EFL referee.

The Suffolk official will be assisted by Christopher Kidd and Andrew Hendley, with Isaac Searle in place as tonight’s fourth official.

MATCH COVERAGE

Supporters unable to make it to the Lamex Stadium this evening can follow match action via the club’s official Twitter page.

The live feed will provide minute-by-minute coverage of the clash in addition to updates on other social media outlets such as Facebook and Instagram.

LIVE match coverage via iFollow - with match passes priced at Ј10 - while BBC Radio Leeds’ Tim Steere and Andy Kiwomya will provide live radio commentary at 774 kHz on FM and DAB.

Subscribers to iFollow can also catch all the reaction with post-match interviews and content, while supporters based outside of the UK and Ireland can watch LIVE for only Ј5.

BACK THE BANTAMS - WITH SKY BET

City supporters can back the Bantams for victory this evening - with Sky Bet.

Gary Bowyer's men are currently placed as 5/4 favourites for the win against Stevenage.

James Vaughan and Clayton Donaldson are both 5/1 favourites to open the scoring. 

City fans can place their bets by CLICKING HERE.

PLEASE NOTE: All odds are subject to change.

KIT COLOURS

City will be back in their home strip of claret and amber stripes. Stevenage will wear their home strip, of red and white.

City: Claret and Amber / Black / Black

Oldham: Red and White / Red / Red


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