First v second on Saturday when Bradford City, who owe their place in this division to a goal they scored deep into added time in their final game of the regular season campaign in League 2, come to Cardiff City Stadium.
A feature of this season’s third tier has been how three of the four promoted sides, Doncaster, Bradford and Wimbledon, have settled in so seamlessly in the higher level. In fact the first two named have done more than that, they have been challenging at the top of the table and now, with the other promoted side, Port Vale, having won for the first time last Saturday, there’s the chance that they can start to put themselves well clear of the bottom four as well.
As for Bradford, it’s their home form which has catapulted them towards the top, they’ve beaten some good sides at Valley Parade already (e.g. Luton and Huddersfield) while winning four out of four. Away from home, it’s been more patchy – there’s been an eye catching 2-1 win at Stockport, draws, by 0-0 and 1-1 respectively at Northampton and Peterborough and a 3-1 loss at Doncaster in their last away game.
It shouldn’t be forgotten either that Bradforf have pulled off notable wins at Championship teams Blackburn and Stoke to reach the Third Round of the League Cup. Therefore, I don’t think to dismiss them as being in a false position, as I’ve seen some do, is fair or true. I would have thought that they’re bound to be the most confident side we’ve faced at home so far in a season where, up to now anyway, the woeful performances and results at Cardiff City Stadium over a period of five seasons have looked to be a thing of the past.
I think if City can play like they did once they got going against Plymouth, like they did against Rotherham and like they did against Cheltenham in the League Cup, they should win. However, a repeat of last Saturday at Stockport and, to a lesser extent, Tuesday at Exeter and I reckon we’ll be facing up to our first case of dropping home points. Maybe it will come down to how many of our players who have been trying to overcome injuries actually do so – for example, was the withdrawal of new signings Osho and Kellyman at Exeter just precautionary or was there more to it than that?
On to the quiz, questions dating back to the 60s on Bradford City with the answers to be posted on here on Sunday.
60s. Two games played about three months apart which produced just the one goal between them during the 68/69 season had great meaning to Bradford City and their opponents – who were the opponents in question and why were the fixtures so noteworthy?
70s. His parents were part of the Windrush generation, he played over five hundred league games during his career with more than half of them coming for Bradford City in two spells with the club (the first, longer, one being during the 70s and the second one in the 80s). Equally effective at both ends of the pitch, he has a sister who went on to become a presenter on the Children’s BBC programme Playdays between 1988 and 1996. She has also written scripts for episodes of Eastenders and Doctors. Who is the footballer I’m describing?
80s. Deduction for the Great White Shark?
90s. Great beer and pie served up by winger! (5.7)
00s. Who is the current Championship manager who was in the Bradford City team the last time we played them?
10s. Which current City player made one appearance, against Notts County, for Bradford City in a loan spell during this decade?
20s. Legacy for royal bird?
Answers:
60s. Bradford City were promoted to the Third Division in 1968/69 and with their neighbours Bradford Park Avenue stuck in a terminal decline which would see them lose their place in the Football League at the end of the following season, the two games between the clubs were the last time they ever faced each other in competitive action. Bradford City won the first game between the teams 1-0 at Valley Parade in November 1968 and the return match at Park Avenue in January 1969 finished goalless.
70s. Joe Cooke started out as a centre forward with his first club Bradford City in the early 70s, before becoming a centreback later on . In a career where he ended up with 97 goals from just over 500 league games, he returned to Bradford City in 1982 for a couple of season. His sister Trish was a presenter on BBC Children’s Television and has also worked as a scriptwriter on programmers such as Eastenders and Doctors.
90s.Greg Fee – Greg Norman the golfer is known as the Great White Shark.
90s.Peter Beagrie.
00s.Current Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom was a member of the Bradford City team beaten 1-0 at Valley Parade by City on 17 January 2004.
10s. .Jak Alnwick played against Notts County for Bradford City during a loan spell at the club from Newcastle during the 14/15 season.
20s. Will Swan.
