For
most of this season, our league form has been disappointing and the
cups have provided a welcome pick-me-up. But the situation is
reversed this weekend as we head into a league game looking to
recover from double cup defeat. Hopefully those two losses in the FA
Cup and JPT
won't affect our confidence too badly and we can continue our recent
league form, which sees us unbeaten in seven League Two matches and
now just five points behind the play-off places.
The
situation for Bradford is of course rather different. They are still
basking in the glory of their 3-1
victory over Aston Villa in the first leg of their League Cup
semi-final on Tuesday night with the second leg coming up soon. Their
excellent cup run does appear to have distracted from the league
though, with the Bantams winning just once in five league games and
losing to Barnet last weekend. They also have the added instability of
speculation over the future of manager Phil Parkinson after interest
from Blackpool. This could either be a very good time to play a
Bradford side with their collective mind elsewhere, or a very bad
time to play a side who are understandably on a high after upsetting
a Premier League side just a matter of days ago.
And
they will be hoping that they can continue that momentum as they look
to name a possibly unchanged XI this weekend, though Andy Gray, who
has joined on loan from Leeds, could feature. As for us, Wilder has
several options that weren't available to him during the week, with
new loanees Lewis Montrose and Justin Richards both being cup-tied in
the JPT. In addition, both Adam Chapman and Deane Smalley could be
available for selection after returning from lengthy injuries –
though it would be a surprise if either were to start.
Our
recent record against the Bantams leaves a lot to be desired, losing
to them by two goals to nil when they visited the Kassam earlier in
the season. It was also Bradford who inflicted on us our biggest
defeat since returning to the Football League as we fell to a 5-0
pasting in October 2010. Valley Parade has not typically been a happy
hunting ground: the last time we won there was in 1994.
There
are several links between the two sides, most obviously manager Chris
Wilder who spent a season with Bradford in 1997-98. In addition, Jake
Wright came through the Bradford youth system, as did Luke O'Brien
(in fact, his brother still plays for Bradford – rugby league side
Bradford Bulls) and the returning Deane Smalley also spent a brief
spell on loan there last season.
From the Vaults
Bradford City v Oxford United, 21st February 1998
The
arrival of Malcolm Shotton as manager had temporarily revitalised
United's league form, and we travelled to Valley Parade with three
wins from his first four games in charge. But when we came up against
a midtable Bradford City side that counted a certain journeyman
defender named Chris Wilder in their midst, the match was a little
less exciting than Shotton's earlier matches and the two sides played
out a goalless draw.
You
can find this and many other old Oxford matches in our Video
Vault.
Also This Weekend
The
youth team return for their first competitive game since the winter
break with a trip to Cheltenham Town. The young U's have already
beaten Cheltenham twice this season, 4-2 at home and then 1-0 at
Cheltenham in the League Cup. Their game against Barnsley during the
week was postponed for the third time due to an unplayable pitch.
It's
another big weekend for the ladies, fresh from their 6-1 demolition
over league rivals Keynsham Town in the Women's FA Cup last weekend.
They travel to second-placed Forest Green Rovers as they look to
extend their lead at the top to six points. They have form on their
side, after narrowly overcoming their opponents by a goal
to nil earlier in the season. The reserves are in action as well,
as they prepare for a League Cup tie away at Aldershot Town, who are
currently five points clear at the top of the Southern Region Premier
Division.
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