Two minute guide to: Bradford City
Here’s our brief preview of Port Vale’s visit to Bradford City on Saturday
Match Essentials
Date: Saturday 29th August
Ticket prices: More details here
Port Vale
Manager: Rob Page
Last match: 0-0 vs West Brom (League Cup)
Recent form: W-D-D-W-D
Bradford City
Manager: Phil Parkinson
Last match: 0-0 vs Barnsley
Recent form: L-D-D-L-D
Team News
Remie Streete: can’t force his way into starting eleven, yet
There are likely to be few Vale changes with Rob Page keeping faith with the side that is unbeaten in open play so far this season. It means Remie Streete will have to be content with a place on the bench due to the form of Ryan Inniss and Richard Duffy.
Bradford will be missing Tony McMahon who has a mystery virus, but otherwise they have no other injury problems.
Pre-match quote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuVypK9cqRMHere are the views of manager Rob Page.
Last time we met…
Michael O’Connor hit a late equaliser as the two sides played out a 2-2 draw back in February. Earlier in the season, the two sides had played out a 1-1 draw at Valley Parade.
Club Connections
Jak Alnwick: spells with both clubs
Port Vale goalkeeper Jak Alnwick had a loan spell for Bradford making a solitary appearance in a league game against Notts County.
We could also see two former Vale players in Bradford line-up. Winger Mark Marshall left Vale to link-up with Bradford in the summer. Marshall had an excellent spell during his solitary season with the Valiants.
Former Valiant Billy Knott could be lining up for opponents Bradford City on Saturday. Knott had a successful loan spell with Vale and was offered a permanent move but he opted to join the Bantams instead.
In previous years, a number of players have appeared for both clubs including:
- Volatile striker Ron Futcher
- Forward Lee Mills
- Winger Peter Griffiths
- Striker Dave Hibbert
- Striker Bernie Wright
- Goalkeeper Neville Southall
- Winger Will Atkinson
Bluffer’s Guide
Classic clash: Port Vale 4-3 Bradford City, March 5th, 1938
Jack ‘Nipper’ Roberts (right) – on the mark
A crowd of 8,022 saw Vale stop a run of two consecutive defeats with a highly entertaining win over the Bantams. Vale’s goalscorers were Tom Nolan with a brace, 34 year-old veteran Harry Davies and Jack ‘Nipper’ Roberts. Vale would finish in 15th place that season while Bradford finished one place higher in 14th.
Incidentally, ‘Nipper’ Roberts was quite a character with a fascinating story on and off the pitch. You can read more about him in our cult heroes section, click on this link
Overall record:
- 32 Port Vale wins
- 42 Port Vale losses
- 29 draws
A few essential facts about our opponents to impress your mates with…
- Vale’s last win at Valley Parade was back in 2012 when Tom Pope scored in a 1-0 Vale win.
- The first meeting between the two sides in 1903 was also Vale’s biggest win with the Valiants triumphing 5-2.
- Vale’s heaviest defeat was a 7-0 thumping in 1932.
- There have been several exciting clashes notably a 4-3 win for Vale in 1938 (more above) a 3-3 draw in 1960 and a 3-2 Vale win in 1966.
- Vale are unbeaten in their last six home fixtures against Bradford.
- It’s a different matter at Valley Parade with Vale winning just once in their last six league visits