Head2Head & Early Team News - Bradford City

Last updated : 15 December 2005 By Bigrich.....
Caretaker manager, Alan Knill returns to the hot seat just six months after he last occupied it and isn’t helped by injuries and suspensions as he tries to mastermind a first win in 18 games. Loan star Paul Evans has returned to Nottingham Forest and will undergo surgery on a knee problem and Gregor Robertson has been ruled out with a strained neck suffered in training today. Paul Hurst and Scott Minto will battle it out for Roberton’s place and Michael Keane will be the favourite to replace Evans.
Returned to the hotseat

The defence is already weakened by the absence of the suspended Shaun Barker and that means the only 100% appearance record has now gone. Luckily for the Millers it looks like Phil Gilchrist will be fit enough to take Barker’s place as he came through a reserve game during the week having missed several games with a toe injury.

Will Hoskins will be buoyed by the return of Alan Knill to the helm, as Knill started Hoskins in five consecutive matches last season and having scored twice in the reserves on Wednesday will be confident of a starting berth come 3pm.

With several players having spoken out at their disappointment at Mick Harford’s firing, Knill and Rotherham fans will be hoping that they use it as motivation to claim a first win since September and their first point in three.

They will be boosted by Bradford’s midweek cup defeat to Barnsley as the tie went to penalties meaning less time for recovery for the West Yorkshire men and defender Mark Bower feels they were affected by fatigue. 2As soon as they went ahead again I think the writing was on the wall. We'd had two long trips the week before and possibly that caught up with us, but there are no excuses” said Bower talking to Teamtalk.

They will definitely be without goalkeeper Donavon Ricketts as he sits out a second match after he lost his appeal to rescind the red card received at last week’s draw against Southend. Ricketts had allegedly been on the end of racist remarks by Southend fans and retaliated by swearing at them and as a result was sent off.

Lucky Omen?
Bradford are in the chasing pack for the play offs and will be keen to extend their unbeaten league run to four and inflict Rotherham’s ninth league defeat since their last win.



There are a couple of lucky omens that Rotherham will be hoping can help them out. Their last win on September 10th against Gillingham was officiated by Andy D'Urso and he too will be in the middle for Saturday's clash. Also, the last time Rotherham visited Valley Parade it was on the last Saturday before Christmas and the Millers recorded a 2-0 win with goals from Darren Byfield and John Mullin.


League One
Bradford City v Rotherham United
KO 3pm 17 December 2005 - Valley Parade
At Bradford City (27)At Rotherham U. (29)
ResultsTotal%ResultsTotal%
Bradford City1451.85Rotherham U.1758.62
Rotherham U.933.33Bradford City724.14
Draws414.81Draws517.24
GoalsTotalAv.pgGoalsTotalAv.pg
Bradford City531.96Rotherham U.511.76
Rotherham U.351.30Bradford City351.21
On Neutral Ground (0)Overall (56 matches)
ResultsTotal%ResultsTotal%
Bradford City00.00Bradford City2137.50
Rotherham U.00.00Rotherham U.2646.43
Draws00.00Draws916.07
GoalsTotalAv.pgGoalsTotalAv.pg
Bradford City00.00Bradford City881.57
Rotherham U.00.00Rotherham U.861.54
Records
Highest Aggregate12Bradford City 11 - 1Rotherham U.1928/1929
Highest Bradford City score:11Bradford City 11 - 1Rotherham U.1928/1929
Highest Rotherham U. score:5Rotherham U. 5 - 2Bradford City1949/1950
SeasonDateHomeScoreAwayCompetition
2005/2006Sat 20 AugRotherham U.1 - 1Bradford CityLeague One
2003/2004Sat 06 MarRotherham U.1 - 2Bradford CityLeague Division One
Sat 20 DecBradford City0 - 2Rotherham U.League Division One
2002/2003Sat 18 JanRotherham U.3 - 2Bradford CityLeague Division One
Sat 31 AugBradford City4 - 2Rotherham U.League Division One
2001/2002Sat 16 MarRotherham U.1 - 1Bradford CityLeague Division One
Sat 08 DecBradford City3 - 1Rotherham U.League Division One
Tue 11 SepRotherham U.0 - 4Bradford CityLeague Cup
1995/1996Sat 16 MarBradford City2 - 0Rotherham U.League Division Two
Tue 23 JanRotherham U.2 - 0Bradford CityLeague Division Two
1994/1995Mon 17 AprBradford City0 - 3Rotherham U.League Division Two
Mon 26 DecRotherham U.3 - 1Bradford CityLeague Division Two
1993/1994Sat 02 AprRotherham U.2 - 1Bradford CityLeague Division Two
Mon 27 DecBradford City2 - 1Rotherham U.League Division Two
1992/1993Tue 23 MarRotherham U.2 - 0Bradford CityLeague Division Two
Sat 28 NovBradford City0 - 3Rotherham U.League Division Two
1990/1991Sat 11 MayBradford City1 - 0Rotherham U.Third Division
Sat 03 NovRotherham U.0 - 2Bradford CityThird Division
1984/1985Mon 08 AprBradford City1 - 1Rotherham U.Third Division
Tue 01 JanRotherham U.1 - 2Bradford CityThird Division
1983/1984Sat 18 FebBradford City1 - 0Rotherham U.Third Division
Sat 29 OctRotherham U.1 - 0Bradford CityThird Division
1980/1981Wed 13 AugBradford City0 - 0Rotherham U.League Cup
Bradford City won 3-1 on aggregate
Sat 09 AugRotherham U.1 - 3Bradford CityLeague Cup
1977/1978Sat 25 FebBradford City3 - 0Rotherham U.Third Division
Sat 01 OctRotherham U.2 - 1Bradford CityThird Division
1975/1976Sat 13 DecRotherham U.0 - 3Bradford CityF.A. Cup
1974/1975Wed 16 AprBradford City1 - 1Rotherham U.Fourth Division
Tue 24 SepRotherham U.4 - 0Bradford CityFourth Division
1973/1974Tue 23 OctRotherham U.2 - 1Bradford CityFourth Division
Wed 12 SepBradford City2 - 1Rotherham U.Fourth Division
1971/1972Sat 01 JanBradford City1 - 0Rotherham U.Third Division
Sat 18 SepRotherham U.2 - 0Bradford CityThird Division
1970/1971Sat 20 MarRotherham U.1 - 1Bradford CityThird Division
Sat 07 NovBradford City1 - 1Rotherham U.Third Division
1969/1970Sat 31 JanBradford City0 - 1Rotherham U.Third Division
Sat 04 OctRotherham U.2 - 3Bradford CityThird Division
1950/1951Sat 03 MarBradford City3 - 4Rotherham U.Third Division (North)
Sat 14 OctRotherham U.1 - 0Bradford CityThird Division (North)
1949/1950Sat 25 FebRotherham U.5 - 2Bradford CityThird Division (North)
Sat 19 NovBradford City1 - 2Rotherham U.Third Division (North)
1948/1949Sat 26 FebRotherham U.2 - 0Bradford CityThird Division (North)
Sat 02 OctBradford City1 - 2Rotherham U.Third Division (North)
1947/1948Sat 06 MarBradford City0 - 1Rotherham U.Third Division (North)
Sat 18 OctRotherham U.4 - 1Bradford CityThird Division (North)
1946/1947Sat 31 MayBradford City2 - 0Rotherham U.Third Division (North)
Sat 02 NovRotherham U.2 - 1Bradford CityThird Division (North)
1938/1939Sat 25 MarBradford City5 - 2Rotherham U.Third Division (North)
Sat 19 NovRotherham U.2 - 0Bradford CityThird Division (North)
1937/1938Sat 22 JanBradford City3 - 2Rotherham U.Third Division (North)
Sat 11 SepRotherham U.2 - 1Bradford CityThird Division (North)
1928/1929Sat 29 DecRotherham U.2 - 2Bradford CityThird Division (North)
Sat 25 AugBradford City11 - 1Rotherham U.Third Division (North)
1927/1928Sat 21 AprRotherham U.0 - 0Bradford CityThird Division (North)
Wed 14 MarBradford City3 - 1Rotherham U.Third Division (North)
Sat 10 DecBradford City2 - 3Rotherham U.F.A. Cup