Bradford V Northampton at Coral Windows Stadium : Match Preview

05 April 2013 11:01
Bradford V Northampton - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Bantams are ready to go

Bradford have no new injury concerns ahead of Northampton's visit to Valley Parade.

The Bantams go into the game five points adrift of the play-off places, albeit with a game in hand on seventh-placed Exeter.

But anything less than a win against the Cobblers, who themselves are chasing a top-three spot, could leave City with too much to do.

Phil Parkinson, whose side have lost just one of their last nine games, is only without long-term injury absentee Luke Oliver (Achilles).

The manager made just one change from Good Friday's draw against Southend for Easter Monday's defeat of Torquay - recalling Nahki Wells for Zeb Hines - and is once again unlikely to tinker too much.

Alan Connell, Will Atkinson and Nathan Doyle are ready for action, though, if Parkinson does decide to make changes.

Veteran striker Clive Platt is fit for Northampton.

Platt, 35, sat out Monday's defeat at Cheltenham on the bench after a calf injury forced him off during the home win over Torquay three days previously.

Cobblers boss Aidy Boothroyd said: "Clive is fit and he'll be ready for Bradford. I thought the team did really well in the second half at Cheltenham so I didn't really see the need to bring him on."

Platt's return means Boothroyd has just two absentees, with captain Kelvin Langmead continuing his rehabilitation following last month's knee operation, and striker Alex Nicholls - who travelled with the squad to Cheltenham - still recovering from a broken leg.

Source: PA