After two from two indoors, it’s time for us to hit the road again and see if we can build on a positive start to the new season. The team that now stands between us and another superb Saturday evening is Bradford City. Of course, it’s easy to get high on the thought of our first league win in several hundred years. But the Bantams will, whether we like it or not, pose a different challenge. It can’t always be as easy as Oldham indoors. Still, there’s a platform for us to build on. And we’re dead keen to see what comes of this next away day.
The Details: Bradford City v Stevenage
Where’s the game?
For our latest League Two outing, it’s north to West Yorkshire we go – the place that you’ll find Bradford’s Valley Parade stadium. Well, you won’t find it because us fans can’t go yet.
Can I watch Bradford City v Stevenage
Yeah, course. Catch all the action on your phone, laptop or table with iFollow. The details haven’t changed. And nor has the price for pay-as-you-go-go-getters.
How are Boro’ shaping up…?
Jeez, it was a long enough wait; our 3-0 win against Oldham is the first time we picked up three points at home in 11 months. Now, you can judge the Leasing.com Trophy how you wish. We’re not fans of it. But we’ll take a win against Southampton’s kids too. So, it’s now two from two. Of course, we won a few in that tournament last season. And look how that ended up. The Bantams are the next step on a journey and our tails are definitely up.
… and how are they looking?
In the league so far, our hosts are playing it straight down the line – two games, two goals and two points. Last time out, they had three points in their grasp at Forest Green – ’til a stoppage time leveller ruined their trip. So, they’ll no doubt be fired up for our arrival and that hope of adding a first league win to their Carabao Cup First Round victory over Bolton last month. So, it looks like we’ve got a very interesting encounter taking shape here.
Our story with Bradford City so far
Until Covid-19 struck, we had made it as far as the final third of the 2019-20 season. Even so, we’re still a bit shocked that both our scheduled league games with the Bantams made the cut. We’re not shocked, however, to see that neither are worth remembering. We lost 1-0 at home early on in the season – before feebly letting them come from behind to claim a 3-1 win at their place. Our record there isn’t perfect. But it isn’t as bad as that suggests.
One highlight of our otherwise forgettable 2013-4 League One relegation battle was a 3-2 win for us up there; Luke Freeman more than stealing the show with some pure golazos:
Last Meeting: Bradford City 3-1 Stevenage, 11 February 2020
Who’s the referee in charge?
To us, the name Ollie Yates says “Radio One Breakfast Show host”. We’re not sure why. We don’t expect you to know either. Mr Yates is taking charge of his third game of the current campaign at Valley Parade; the first two ending all square and just the two yellow cards in each fixture. For us, we’ve met six times before. Our record, however, ain’t great. We have won just once on his watch; our 1-0 win at Newport County in April 2018.
Since then, our run reads draw, defeat, draw and defeat. Hmm. Are we being paranoid – or are we seeing even more omens that point towards this fixture ending in a draw?
Last Meeting: Exeter City 2-1 Stevenage, 08 February 2020
I have £1 to bet – what are my options?
You could save it. Or you could put your football betting knowledge to the test? If that’s the case, then let’s have a look and see how the land lies. The hosts are leading the market at the moment; evens for the most part, but 11/10 isn’t unheard of at the time of writing. With the away win, we’re out as far as 3s in some places. The draw rolls in around 12/5. Taking other options into account, we’re looking good in front of goal. It could well bring BTTS into the equation 5/6 – or really show your stuff with correct score. How about 1-1 at 11/2?
