We look ahead to Saturday's away League Two fixture
BRADFORD CITY v GILLINGHAMnpower League Two
Saturday February 9 2013
Coral Windows Stadium
Kick-off: 3.00pm
TEAM NEWS -
In this afternoon’s press conference assistant-manager John Schofield stated that everybody was ‘fit and raring to go’ ahead of Saturday’s fixture.
Striker Nahki Wells (groin) and defender Rory McArdle (ankle) are both major doubts having limped off at Fleetwood last weekend.
Meanwhile full-back James Meredith (glandular fever) and defender Andrew Davies (knee) are both taking tentative steps towards returning to full training
THE SEASON SO FAR -
Bradford currently lie 10th in the League Two table having picked up 41 points (11 wins and eight draws) from their 28 games so far.
In their last ten league games Phil Parkinson’s side have won three, the last being against Accrington Stanley at home on Boxing Day, drawn four and lost three.
Last time out, in their 2-2 draw at Fleetwood where Wells and Ryan Dickson were on target, City lined up like this – Duke, Darby, McHugh, Nelson, McArdle (Dickson 42), Thompson (Reid 80), Doyle, Jones, Atkinson, Hanson, Wells (Gray 85) Unused subs: McLaughlin, Ravenhill, Connell, Hines
At home they have won eight and drawn two, the only clubs to have left West Yorkshire with all three points have been Exeter City (1-0), Oxford United (2-1), Port Vale (1-0) and Rochdale (4-2).
The Bantams have of course made the national headlines this season by reaching the final of the Capital One Cup knocking out Premier League sides Wigan Athletic (away on penalties), Arsenal (at home on penalties) and Aston Villa (over two legs) en route.
They now face top-flight outfit Swansea City in the Wembley final on February 24.
LEADING GOALSCORERS -
Strikers Danny Kedwell (12) and Deon Burton (10) are both in double figures while Myles Weston (seven) has now moved one goal clear of Chris Whelpdale who has six to his name.
They are followed by seven players on two apiece, including Cody McDonald, with another seven having netted once.
Nahki Wells is City’s leading goalscorer this season, his tally currently is 18 goals, and he is ten ahead of fellow strikers Alan Connell and James Hanson.
Winger Kyel Reid has added four while Andrew Davies, Carl McHugh and Garry Thompson all have three apiece while they are followed by Will Atkinson, Gary Jones and Rory McArdle. Six other players have netted one each.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS -
It was on the opening day of the season, with weather more akin to what the cricket season should enjoy, that Bradford were beaten 3-1 here a MEMS Priestfield Stadium in Martin Allen’s first league game in charge of the Gills.
Danny Kedwell opened the scoring two minutes before the break lifting the ball over Matt Duke from an acute angle and added a second from the spot after Garry Thompson had fouled Charlie Lee.
The 400 travelling fans had to stop applying sun cream to celebrate when Nahki Wells pulled one back for the visitors with a 62nd minute penalty but debutant Myles Weston sealed the Gills victory two minutes from time when breaking clear and finishing with a neat, low strike.
Gills – Nelson, Fish, Martin, Flanagan, Frampton, Allen, Montrose (Payne 55), Lee, Jackman (Dack 85), Kedwell, Burton (Weston 58) Unused subs: Strevens, C. Davies, Forecast, Barrett
City – Duke, Darby (A.Davies 84), Meredith, Oliver, Reid, Hanson, Thompson (Wells 58), Atkinson, Connell (Hines 58), Jones, McArdle Unused subs: McLaughlin, , Hannah, McHugh, Doyle
OFFICIALS -
Referee – Carl Boyeson
Assistants – Mark Astley & Jonathon Hunt
Fourth Official – Gordon Johnson
Previously this season Carl has taken charge of 22 games in which he has issued two red and 54 yellow cards.
The East Yorkshire official refereed two Gillingham games last season at Morecambe and Shrewsbury Town.