Bradford City continued their wonderful form with a 2-0 win over Scunthorpe United at Glanford Park on Saturday, which made it five games unbeaten in all competitions for The Bantams.
Here, I take a look at five things we learnt from their latest success:
City can cope without Reece Burke
Although The Bantams have not had to play much without their loanee centre back, they have won their last three games without him. Burke, on loan from West Ham, had been instrumental in City’s turnaround in form from the start of the season and Nathan Clarke had not looked good in his early outings in claret and amber. However, City have coped well since Burke got injured and Clarke has looked more secure at the back, showing that even if Burke is recalled from West Ham, City still have the tools to win games and keep clean sheets.
Ben Williams is good enough to be Number One
Williams was largely criticised at the start of the season, with many believing he didn’t quite cut it at League One level. However, he now holds the record for the most consecutive clean sheets in a Bradford shirt, with six. He made a wonderful save from Neal Bishop early on and looks solid and secure early on. He’s proven on City’s unbeaten run that he is an able keeper at this level.
Kyel Reid is vital to the cause
Reid is in his second spell, this time on loan at Bradford from Championship side Preston North End. Although he can be inconsistent at times, his pace has proved a valuable asset for City and he’s a reliable outlet who always makes himself an option. His pace is valuable to City’s side as the midfield isn’t blessed too much with it, so it is important that they keep him at the club beyond January and the expiry of his loan spell.
Bradford are no longer one dimensional
The second goal City scored on Saturday, finished off by left back Greg Leigh, proved to be a wonderful team goal, incorporating practically the entire left hand side of the team. It was finished superbly by a left back who has made it difficult for the highly rated James Meredith to come back into the side and wonderfully created by a team high on confidence. Bradford aren’t all hoofball any more…
City have enough to go up
Nine games unbeaten. Six clean sheets in a row. Bradford are on the charge- and they’re good enough to go up. It may well still not happen and the next two games against high flyers Coventry and Walsall will teach us a lot, as well as a difficult run which includes games against Burton and Sheffield United just after Christmas. However, if City do well in the festive period they will be a force to be reckoned with- and on recent form- write them off at your peril.
