Bradford City v Walsall
Match Preview
It’s a battle at the top of the Sky Bet League Two table on Saturday, January 25, as league leading Walsall take on playoff pushing Bradford City at the University of Bradford City stadium in front of the Sky Sports cameras, kicking off at the earlier time of 12:30pm.
The Saddlers will go into the encounter brimming with confidence, having won nine league games on the bounce. Their last Sky Bet League Two defeat came on Tuesday, October 1, in a 6-2 thumping against Fleetwood Town, and have since gone on a 16-game unbeaten streak.
Most recently, Matt Sadler’s side beat MK Dons 4-2 on home soil on Saturday, January 18. However, they were on the wrong end of the same scoreline just four days prior against Peterborough United in the EFL Trophy.
Having crashed out of the FA Cup in round two after a 4-0 loss against Charlton, their sole focus is now on the bid for promotion, and their fight to become champions, of which they are currently 12 points clear of Crewe Alexandra in 2nd place, with a game in hand.
Aehad of Saturday’s trip to West Yorkshire, defender Liam Gordon said: “Bradford is a tough place to go to, they are a tough team and come the end of the season I don’t think they will be in the position that they are in now.”
“We have to focus on us, as we have been doing. We have a job to do and it’s going to be another tough game, every team possesses a different threat, and they do possess a threat.”
Walsall did suffer a blow on January 12, when striker Nathan Lowe, who had been outstanding for the Saddlers, and is still the league’s top goalscorer with 15 goals, was recalled from his loan spell by Stoke City.
That being said, Sadler’s side still have firepower at the top end of the pitch through the likes of Jamille Matt, who has netted nine times so far. Despite Lowe’s absence, Walsall were able to find the back of the net four times against MK Dons.
Bradford have too suffered challenges in the striker position, as talisman Andy Cook suffered an ACL injury just six minutes into the game on New Year’s Day against Barrow AFC, which will now rule him out for the remainder of the season.
He underwent successful surgery, after which Bradford manager Graham Alexander commented: “I spoke to the medical team today and the operation went as planned. He’s just got recovery time now.”
As a result of Cook’s injury, Alexander acquired the loan signing of Michael Mellon from Burnley. He’d spent the first half of the season with Stockport County, and coincidentally last featured for the Hatters in a Virtu Trophy tie against Bradford City.
He may be in line to make his debut, having been an unused substitute in the Bantam’s last game against Carlisle United.
Calum Kavanagh netted the only goal of the game in the 54th minute, and has been tasked with leading the line in Cook’s absence. It’s an opportunity he’s taken so far, having also scored against Aston Villa Academy in the previous game in the Virtu Trophy.
Like Walsall, Alexander’s side are in excellent form, with the Carlisle victory making it five games unbeaten, four of which have ended in victory.
Bradford are currently sitting one place outside the playoffs in eighth, but have a chance to move into the top seven should they pick up an impressive three points against the table toppers.
Match Report
Bradford City 3-0 Walsall FC
Sky Bet League Two
Saturday 25th January 2025
Attendance: 17,172 (901 away)
Bantams end Walsall unbeaten streak to continue promotion push
It was Bradford City who put an end to Walsall’s 16-game unbeaten streak in Sky Bet League Two, beating the table toppers 2-0 at the University of Bradford Stadium.
It was a completely unchanged squad for the Bantams following their 1-0 victory over Carlisle, and manager Graham Alexander was delighted to gain three points at the University of Bradford Stadium.
“I am delighted for the players and each one of them were exceptional,” he said after the game.
Walsall made just one change to the starting lineup from their previous game, which was a 4-2 win over MK Dons. Charlie Lakin replaced Jamie Jellis in midfield, and Manchester United loanee Ethan Wheatley came onto the bench, having been unveiled that morning.
On the heavy defeat, manager Mat Sadler commented: “Credit to them, I thought they played really well.”
“We just struggled to get into our rhythm,” he added.
Despite the visitors looking the most dangerous in the opening exchanges, it was Bradford who had the first opportunity after nine minutes. With Bradley Halliday’s initial effort being blocked, and the rebound was put behind for a corner.
Two minutes later, the deadlock was broken after superb one-touch passing on the edge of the penalty area between Bobby Pointon, Calum Kavanagh and Antoni Sarcevic, and the latter arrowed the ball into the top right corner.
The goal gave the Bantams the lift they needed, as they controlled the remainder of the first half, though chances were limited.
That was until the 44th minute, when the advantage was doubled. Sarcevic this time turned provider, excellently winning the flick-on and finding Alex Pattison, who fired home on the volley.
Both sides had reason to be aggrieved with the match officials during first half injury time, as firstly Walsall’s strong appeals for a penalty were waved away.
Bradford counter-attacked, though Kavanagh turned down the option of Sarcevic to his right, instead making the wrong decision to go alone and fired off target.
In the final minute of additional time, Oisin McEntree put in a very late challenge on Halliday, to the frustration of the hosts’ players, management team and supporters, who felt he should have been dismissed, but a yellow card was brandished.
It was expected that the Saddlers would start the second half quickly in an attempt to get back into the game, though it was in fact Bradford who carried over their first half momentum, and added a third after 53 minutes.
Again it was Pattison, who drove from his own half into the penalty area, and had the finish to match, finding the bottom left corner.
12 minutes later, Jack Shepard was judged to have tripped his man inside the penalty. It looked harsh, but Walsall failed to capitalise on a huge opportunity to get back into the game, as substitute Danny Johnson saw his penalty towards the bottom left corner saved well by Sam Walker.
The Bantams had a few good sightings to add a fourth, when Pattison’s curling delivery found Sarcevic, though he put his free header wide at the back post.
Tommy Leigh was then played through one-on-one, but Tommy Simkin saved the low attempt with his feet.
Bradford City: Sam Walker; Ciaran Kelly, Jack Shepard, Aden Baldwin; Lewis Richards (Samuel Wright 81’), Richard Smallwood, Alexander Pattison, Bradley Halliday (Johnson 90’); Bobby Pointon (Lapslie 73’), Antoni Sarcevic (Khela 81’); Calum Kavanah (Leigh 73’)
Subs: Colin Doyle (GK), Callum Johson, Tommy Leigh, Brandon Khela, George Lapslie, Tyreik Samuel Wright, Michael Mellon
Walsall FC: Tommy Simkin; Taylor Allen, Harry Williams, David Okagbue; Liam Gordon, Charlie Lakin (Weir 63’), Ryan Stirk (Comley 63’), Oisin McEntree, Connor Barrett (Asiimwe 74’); Albert Adomah (Wheatley 63’), Jamille Matt (Johnson 33’)
Subs: Sam Hornby (GK), Evan Weir, Brandon Comley, Nathan Asiimwe, Danny Johnson, Josh Gordon, Ethan Wheatley
Ben Edwards Football 