What Bradford City Have To Offer

Last updated : 24 November 2015 By Luke Fry

Bradford City head into today's game against Coventry City having found the consistency of performance and result that had deserted them earlier in the season. They are now eight unbeaten following an impressive win over Scunthorpe United at Glanford Park.

Phil Parkinson will stick with his tried and tested 4-4-2 system, and looks likely to name the same eleven that performed so well on Saturday.

From a defensive point of view, two experienced heads in former Leyton Orient skipper Nathan Clarke - who has started to improve after a rocky start at Valley Parade - and Rory McArdle have been key in the last two games.

Prior to that, West Ham centre back Reece Burke was having a commendable debut loan spell, however that was cut short due to injury.

Burke was expected to be a big miss but Clarke, rejuvenated from his spell out of the team, is in good form. Once again he is showing the dominance in the air and assurance in possession that he displayed in Leyton Orient''s run to the Play-Off final two seasons ago.

In terms of an offensive threat, Bradford have a number of options. James Hanson has been a thorn in Sky Blues' sides in the past but, I believe that Parkinson will start with the pairing of the diminutive Billy Clarke and pacy Jordan Bowery.

Clarke is very similar to Gillingham's Bradley Dack - although he is less inclined to use his unfavoured foot.

He has a good eye for a pass and excellent close control. His finishing is not too shabby either having been Bradford's top scorer last year whilst playing many games in a central attacking midfield role.

Former Aston Villa striker Bowery is a player who has promised much throughout his career but is yet to deliver. He has the physicality to compete with the imposing pair of Ben Turner and Aaron Martin, as well as the pace to leave them for dead in a foot race.

Both Clarke and Bowery will be feeding off the deliveries of Tony McMahon and Kyel Reid, who have five assists between them this season. The overlapping full backs, Stephen Darby and Greg Leigh will also get forward at any chance to support the forwards.

As much as Bradford''s form has picked up of late, their previous five games have included wins over Blackpool and Crewe - otherwise known as League One''s whipping boys. This coincided with Non-League Aldershot taking them to a replay in the FA Cup, which in fairness Bradford won 2-0.

Does this make six clean sheet''s in a row less impressive? Perhaps, perhaps not. What it does indicate to me is that, yet again, we have nothing to fear going into tonight''s game.

More on this - http://otba87.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/bradford-city-insight.html