Match Preview: Peterborough United vs Bradford City

Article by Tim Feather

Kick Off: 3:00pm

London Road

Bradford City travel down to Peterborough for another tough test, a week after playing league leaders Leyton Orient. The Bantams achieved a respectable point against Orient but City believe they need to start winning teams that are sitting in the top six. Bradford have drawn the last two games in the league and Peterborough go into this game after being held to a 2-2 draw with Gillingham last week.

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Phil Parkinson has a couple of injury concerns despite having a fortnight break a week ago. James Hanson and Raffaele De Vita are both doubts for Saturday; De Vita is struggling with a slight thigh problem while James Hanson is a doubt due to a calf injury. The obvious replacement, Caleb Folan, will be out due to a hamstring injury. Phil Parkinson said on his injury list, "We have a few injuries about - nothing major - just a couple of things picked up this week in training which have been frustrating. “ He went on to explain to the Official Bradford City website, “"We just have to make sure that we don't put anyone out there who is not ready because we don't want to lose them for any longer." It is going to be a tough Christmas period for Bradford, Peterborough on Saturday, and then Rotherham Swindon and ending away at Notts County on New Year’s Day. Parkinson said on the busy period "It would be unrealistic to expect the same players to go through the Christmas period and play every one of the games. There are players who haven't been playing recently who will be getting a game.” Bradford needs to have reserve players make a step up to the first team and prove their worth to the tightly knit squad.

Peterborough will be missing Alcock, Rowe and Kearns but they will welcome back Danny Swanson a from suspension. They will be waiting on Gabby Zakuani and Mark Little, who will both be expected to be fit to welcome the Bantams. Darren Ferguson is in his second spell at Peterborough and they are tipped as one of the favourites for promotion this season. Darren Ferguson told the BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, Bradford are "a team I expected at the start of the season to be there or thereabouts, and they are." Peterborough currently lie 5th in League One and will be looking to make up ground on the leading pair which is where they were expecting to be at the start of the season.

All the talk of the game will be about the meeting of the most prolific strikers in the Football League, The Posh’s Britt Assombalonga has 16 goals this season and has kept Peterborough within touching distance of the top four. Bradford City have a lot to thank Nahki Wells for this season with his 15 goals contributing to the great start Bradford City made in the league this season. It will be an interesting encounter and could provide a shop window for clubs from higher divisions who will no doubt be looking on. Posh defender Shaun Brisley is ready for to meet Nahki Wells and knows what to expect, he told the Official Posh Website, 'Nahki has scored a lot of goals and is a very good striker. I have come up against him before and we will need to defend well against him and his strike partner,' Brisley said. Nahki will be at a disadvantage with the fitness of his fellow strike partner James Hanson being in doubt.

If Bradford get a win tomorrow then they will remain outside the play-off positions but if results go against them Bradford can drop down into the mid-table and lose major ground on Rotherham and Peterborough. Peterborough need a win to keep in contact with the top two, something which is critical if they still want to be considered automatic promotion contenders in January.

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