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Writer's pictureCameron Calvert

Ridings Preview (North, East and West Yorkshire): Mangerless Bantams Begin New Era

Updated: Dec 16, 2020


Bantams stopper Richard O'Donnell.

Bradford City will travel to the People’s Pension Stadium on Tuesday night without a manager as they face Crawley Town in League Two.

City lost 3-1 to Oldham Athletic on Saturday and ended up being the final straw for Stuart McCall, with Paudie O’Connor only managing to grab a late consolation goal for Bradford.

Opponents, Crawley, beat ten-man Barrow 4-2, thanks to a Max Watters hat-trick and a Tom Nichols penalty, and have recently signed The Only Way Is Essex star, Mark Wright.

Austin Samuels could come in up top for Lee Novak to add some pace to Bradford's attack, while Tyler French may replace Ben Richards-Everton, who was forced off in the first half at Oldham.

Winger Zeli Ismail is out for three months with an injury and Billy Clarke is likely to miss out along with Kurtis Guthrie.

None of the eight Football League encounters between Crawley and Bradford have ended as a draw – both sides have four wins apiece.

The Bantams are on a five-game losing streak in League Two, their longest run of consecutive defeats in the fourth tier since October 2007 (also five games).


Brendan Kiernan in action for Harrogate.

Elsewhere in League Two, Harrogate Town face a tricky away fixture against Exeter City on Tuesday night.

The Sulphurites lost 1-0 Morecambe last time out whilst opponents, Exeter, won 5-0 against Tranmere Rovers thanks to a Ryan Bowman hat-trick and goals from Matt Jay (penalty) and Jake Taylor.

Head Physiotherapist Rachel Davis confirmed that defender Will Smith, who was rushed to A&E after an injury at Tranmere, will be out for 8-10 weeks due to a hamstring problem, rather than the neck injury that was initially reported. The good news is that surgery is not required.

Jake Lawlor and Kevin Lokko have recently played in Smith's absence, without quite the same influence.

Goalkeeper Joe Cracknell, left-sided midfielder Lloyd Kerry and target man Mark Beck were all part of the Harrogate side that started the season well, so it would make sense for them to come into the XI here.

Harrogate Town are the first Yorkshire team to play away at Exeter in a league match since Doncaster Rovers in November 2016, who won 3-1.

This is the first ever meeting between Exeter and Harrogate in any competition.


Wilks assures Honeyman after missing a chance at the weekend.

In League One, Hull City travel to Blackpool on Tuesday night.

Last time out, the Tigers were stunned by strugglers, Shrewsbury Town, with Charlie Daniels scoring the only goal of the game, while Tuesdays hosts, Blackpool, drew 0-0 with Oxford United.

Blackpool are unbeaten in their last seven matches against Hull in all competitions (W4 D3), while the Tigers have won two of their last 17 away league matches against Blackpool (D8 L7), last playing at Bloomfield Road on New Year’s Day in 2013, a 0-0 draw.

Hull have already won more of their nine away league games this season (six) than they did in 23 away matches in the Championship last term (five).


Raphinha cannot hide his disappointment.

On Wednesday, Leeds United will host Newcastle United at Elland Road in the Premier League.

The Whites fell to another defeat at the weekend, losing 2-1 to West Ham United despite taking the lead.

Matheus Klich converted his penalty at the second attempt to put Leeds a goal up but two headers from Tomas Soucek and Angelo Ogbonna turned the game on its head, giving the Hammers all three points.

Opponents, Newcastle, won 2-1 against West Bromwich Albion with a goal inside the first minute from Miguel Almiron and a late Dwight Gayle strike giving the Toon the points.

Marcelo Bielsa remains without four players for the welcome of Newcastle, with Gaetano Berardi, Robin Koch, Diego Llorente and Adam Forshaw ruled out.

The Leeds boss will likely look to rotate, with Helder Costa possibly coming into the XI for Raphinha.

Jamie Shackleton and Tyler Roberts came off the bench against West Ham on Friday night and are also options for Bielsa.

This is Bielsa’s 114th match in charge of Leeds United in all competitions – the most he’s managed at a club in his managerial career, overtaking the 113 he managed at Athletic Bilbao between 2011 and 2013.

This is the first Premier League meeting between Leeds and Newcastle since January 2004, when the Magpies won 1-0 at St James’ Park courtesy of Alan Shearer’s goal.

Newcastle have lost just one of their last 13 Premier League games in Yorkshire (W9 D3), losing 0-1 at Huddersfield in August 2017.


Watmore scores his first against Millwall.

In the Championship, Middlesbrough will host Luton Town at the Riverside Stadium on Wednesday.

Boro won 3-0 at the weekend against Millwall with a brace from Duncan Watmore and a Marcus Tavernier curler.

The Hatters also won 3-0 on Saturday, beating Preston North End 3-0 at home with a hat-trick from star striker James Collins.

Neil Warnock could make just one change to the side that beat Millwall on Saturday with young wide player Djed Spence returning on the right.

Experienced midfielder Jonny Howson is side-lined with a hamstring injury whilst youngster Nathan Wood has COVID-19 and will play no part here.

Middlesbrough have not lost consecutive league matches against Luton since a run of five in a row between 1961 and 1970 whilst the Hatters have not won consecutive away league visits in Teesside since winning at Ayresome Park in 1961/62 and 1962/63 under Bob Dennison.


There was no stopping David Brooks' strike.

Finally, in the Championship, Huddersfield Town will travel to the St. Andrew’s Trillion Trophies Stadium to face Coventry City on Wednesday.

The Terriers had a day to forget on Saturday, losing 5-0 to AFC Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.

The Sky Blues picked up an important three points at the weekend, beating Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 with a brace from Liam Kelly.

Ben Hamer suffered an injury against Bournemouth so Ryan Schofield will return in goal.

Attacking duo Josh Koroma and Danny Ward are also set for spells on the side-lines so Fraizer Campbell and Isaac Mbenza are likely to start here.

Pipa and Carel Eiting are also likely to be recalled by manager Carlos Corberan.

Coventry and Huddersfield have not met in a match in any competition since January 1978, a 2-0 win for the Sky Blues in the League Cup.

Huddersfield have shipped 19 away Championship goals this season, more than any other side in the division.

This will be Mark Robins’ first match against Huddersfield Town since leaving the club in 2014.

His only previous game against the Terriers was in September 2009 with Rotherham in the Football League Trophy, a 2-1 defeat.

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