There
is one aim that comes above all else when we welcome Bradford to the
Kassam: to ensure that four doesn't become five. We are on an awful
run of form at the moment, but there were positive signs of recovery
against Cheltenham,
even if the result didn't go our way.
During
Chris Wilder's post-match rant he touched upon one very good point –
that at the same stage last
season our league record was no better than it is now. Then, of
course, there was no clamour for the manager's head even if we
weren't entirely happy with the start. The main difference this
season is the manner in which we have reached this stage, having got
our hopes up after the first three games. The season is young, and
even though we now have some catching up to do there is plenty of
time yet.
That
said, there are clearly some issues which need to be resolved if we
are to turn our season around. The
stats back up what our eyes have been telling us; that we have
been victims of a large number of wonder-goals. Seven of the 14 goals
we have conceded so far this season have come from outside the box.
Perhaps this is the result giving the opposition too much time and
space within shooting distance, perhaps the midfield isn't doing
enough to protect the defence.
Our
visitors arrive in good form, currently sat in fifth place and
unbeaten in three. However, Bradford's strength this season has been
at home, with a 100% record at Valley Parade. Away from home, they
are still searching for their first league win of the season, with a
draw at Accrington and defeats at Rotherham and Gillingham so far on
their travels. Bradford also have the benefit of being relatively
free of injury and having a settled side after playing the same XI in
their last two matches.
In
contrast, the Oxford side has been decimated by injury with Jon-Paul
Pittman and Adam Chapman joining the likes of Liam Davis, Andy Whing
and Michael Duberry on the sidelines. With Jake Forster-Caskey still
out through illness and Peter Leven not yet ready to start we are now
down to the bare bones and have yet to really see the benefits of the
new fitness programme that was introduced over the summer.
However,
we do have one mystical factor on our side: the curse of the
returning cast-off. Three members of the matchday squad have
previously represented Bradford, two of whom have come through the
Bantams' youth system. Captain Jake Wright spent his formative years
in the Bradford youth system, but was released after making just a
single appearance for his hometown club. New signing Luke O'Brien
also came through the youth system at Bradford and made more than 100
appearances for them before being released in January and finding
himself unemployed
this summer. Deane Smalley spent a short and unhappy spell at Valley
Parade last season, failing to score in his 13 appearances. Finally,
Chris Wilder is another former Bradford player, spending a single
season in Division One (the Championship) there towards the end of
his playing career.
Further
reading: Match preview
from a Bradford
perspective, and a statistical look at League
Two goals.
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