Sheffield United will be looking to make amends for the six points lost since they returned to domestic action, following the international break, which has seen them lose both fixtures against Bury (1-3) and Colchester United (3-2). Prior to today's feast of football, the Blades currently lay 5th in the League One table and will be hoping not to drop too many more places before they visit Valley Parade tomorrow.
Colchester recorded their first victory of the season, winning 3-2 at Sheffield United in an action-packed clash at Bramall Lane. The U's took an early lead when Marvin Sordell slipped the ball through to George Moncur, who beat keeper Mark Howard with a low shot in the sixth minute. Moncur put the visitors further in front 18 minutes later, receiving the ball from Owen Garvan before firing past Howard.
Billy Sharp pulled a goal back with a twice taken penalty after Gavin Massey tripped Jay McEveley inside the area six minutes after the restart. After Marc McNulty and Sharp both went close, Martyn Woolford equalised after finding space inside the area and drilling a low shot past Jamie Jones just after the hour. Sordell made it 3-2, beating Howard with a deflected shot, before there was late drama as Colchester's George Elokobi was sent off for denying Sharp a goalscoring opportunity, but Jones came to his side's rescue to preserve their lead, saving Sharp's resulting penalty with just two minutes of normal time remaining.
Blades boss Nigel Adkins will be without the services of, Matt Done (collarbone), John Brayford, Bob Harris, Stefan Scougall (calf) and Terry Kennedy (knee), whom all remain side-lined through injury.
Bradford City vs. Sheffield United
Sunday, 20th September 2015
League One - Kick-Off: 12.00PM
Bradford City did well during the summer to keep their most prized asset, manager Phil Parkinson, who was linked with the then vacant manager’s position at Bramall Lane. Despite his nine pre-season signings, the Bantams have made a slow start to the season, winning just two against Port Vale and Oldham Athletic and, drawing 3, including a 1-1 result at Fleetwood Town last weekend, the West Yorkshire outfit currently lay (before today's proceedings) 14th in the table.
Bradford battled back from an early blow to earn a 1-1 draw at Fleetwood. The gusting sea breeze played a big part in Town's third-minute opener. Jimmy Ryan's free-kick hung aloft in a gust and Bantams keeper Ben Williams, backpedalling, spilled the ball to avoid taking it over his own line, leaving Jamille Matt to pounce. Fleetwood looked in control but gifted Bradford a route back midway through the first half. Northern Ireland international Conor McLaughlin gave up possession and former Town loanee Josh Morris led a Bradford counter before crossing for James Hanson to calmly finish.
The visitors grew into the game and could have grabbed the advantage early in the second half when Stephen Darby dived past his man, delivering a back-post cross which Devante Cole headed narrowly wide. The forward went closer still 10 minutes later when his stinging blast came back off the inside of a post. Fleetwood might have clinched it late on, Tyler Forbes finding a burst of pace before his centre was met by Matt whose flick was deflected over the bar. Bradford thought they had won it with the last kick as Steven Davies headed home but the offside flag stifled the celebrations.
Ahead of tomorrow's White Rose clash, Bantams boss Phil Parkinson told their official website bradfordcityfc.co.uk; "Yorkshire derbies are always great games to look forward to, especially at home. These sorts of games always tend to create tremendous atmospheres. All of the players have looked sharp in training and hungry to get their name down in the line-up. It is nice to be able to come back to the Coral Windows Stadium off the back of some good recent away results. We got the win at Oldham and then followed it up with another good performance at Fleetwood. We should have probably won there as well but four points from the two away matches is a good return. It sets things up nicely for a good occasion this Sunday."
Blades-Mad Prediction: Bradford City 1 Sheffield United 1
