County will be hoping a night under the lights at Edgeley Park can provide the spark needed to kickstart our season tomorrow night, as we take on Bradford City in League Two.
For the second week running, Dave Challinor’s were made to pay for missed chances and some slack defending on Saturday, as we lost 2-1 away at Walsall.
That result leaves County as one of only four sides to have lost both of their opening two games in League Two, but this week offers the chance for the Hatters to get back on track with back-to-back home games against Bradford and Barrow.
Bradford themselves were briefly on course for a second straight defeat to start the campaign, trailing at home to Colchester United on Saturday, before goals from summer signings Clarke Odour and Alex Pattison saw the Bantams turn things round at Valley Parade.
Things you need to know:
- County fans can now park at the NCP Car Park at Stockport Train Station for a discounted price of just £3 on a match day, via the ParkPass App! Click here for more information.
- Coming to the game on Tuesday? Click here to view our Fan Information pack, containing all you need to know ahead of your visit to Edgeley Park.
- Don’t forget to turn up early to Edgeley Park to visit the County Courtyard, which will be opening its doors from 5.30pm! For more information on all the food and drink on offer this week, click here.
- Tuesda’s game will be available for both our overseas and domestic supporters to stream over on Stockport County Live, featuring live commentary with Sam Byrne and Liam Richardson. Click here to buy a pass today – available for just £10!
Our Opponents:
As ever with Bradford City in League Two, there will be expectation heading into the new campaign for the side to be challenging at the top end of the table, such is the size of the club.
Under the management of former Manchester United and Barcelona striker Mark Hughes, Bradford spent the majority of last season in and around the play-off places, eventually finishing in sixth place – three points behind County, and seven off the automatic promotion places.
A last-gasp winner away at Northampton Town in late April actually saw them go into the final week of the season still in with a chance of automatic promotion, along with County and Northampton. A midweek defeat at Crewe killed those hopes off, however, and the Bantams eventually needed a point against champions, Leyton Orient on the final day just to secure a play-off spot.
Like County, their season ultimately came to end with play-off agony against Carlisle United, despite winning the first leg of their semi-final 1-0 at Valley Parade. A Brad Halliday own goal in the second leg sent the tie to extra time, where both teams exchanged goals before County loanee Ben Barclay’s header seven minutes from time sent the Cumbrians to Wembley. The less said about what happened from there, the better.
For Bradford it meant a fifth straight season in the fourth division, and Mark Hughes has strengthened his squad over the summer with six new additions.
The versatile Clarke Odour has been brought in from Barnsley, having been on loan at Hartlepool United, whilst midfielder Alex Pattison has joined on a three-year-deal from Harrogate Town. Both players were on the scoresheet in their win against Colchester at the weekend; Pattison in particular catching the eye, having also scored in their Carabao Cup win against Accrington Stanley last week.
Striker Tyler Smith has joined from Hull City and is expected to form a partnership with last season’s top scorer in League Two, Andy Cook. 32-year-old Cook scored 28 goals for the Bantams last season, with the club quick to tie him down to a new three-year-deal in the summer.
Daniel Oyegoke has been brought in on loan from Brentford, but the defender had a debut to forget on opening day – sent off in the first half as Bradford were beaten at Crawley Town, with Will Wright’s free-kick earning a surprise win for the pre-season relegation favourites.
The Bantams have responded well to that early setback though, knocking Accrington Stanley out of the Carabao Cup on penalties before that win over Colchester at the weekend. They will come to Edgeley Park looking to land a blow, as two of the pre-season promotion favourites prepare to go head-to-head.
Match Stats:
- This will be the 115th competitive meeting between County and Bradford – with the Hatters holding the historical edge, winning 50 of the previous meetings compared to Bradford’s 36. We have lost just one of our last six games against the Bantams.
- County haven’t lost the first three league games of a season since 2003/04, when we were beaten by Wycombe Wanderers, Luton Town and Plymouth Argyle in League One.
- County have yet to lose a Tuesday night home game under manager Dave Challinor. Our last midweek home defeat came in October 2021 against Barnet, in Simon Rusk’s final match in charge of the club.
