By Jack Cousin
Bradford City welcome Charlton Athletic to the Northern Commercials Stadium as third take on fifth. Bradford boast an impressive record, losing just two of their last 37 league games on home soil.
The Bantams will be without captain Romain Vincelot after he picked up his fifth booking of the season in the 1-1 draw with Oldham on Tuesday night. He has scored four goals from midfield this season.
The home side will also be without former Charlton man Adam Chicksen through injury while Tony McMahon is still sidelined. Timothee Dieng, Shay McCartan and Dominic Poleon are pushing for recalls.
Charlton also have injury concerns. Key player Ricky Holmes will travel with the squad but remains a doubt. Former Bantam Mark Marshall is out with a calf injury, while Harry Lennon is yet to overcome his groin knock.
Mark Marshall is "gutted" to be missing out on a return to #bcafc due to injury.
👉 https://t.co/AqDIqGae05 #cafc pic.twitter.com/jpsh6ga863
— Charlton Athletic FC (@CAFCofficial) October 20, 2017
Billy Clarke though, who joined Charlton from Bradford in the summer, is set to start. The striker has scored two goals in 15 games for the reds this season.
The Addicks are unbeaten in their last four league games and boast the 4th best away league record in the league, winning three, drawing two and losing two.
Bradford boss Stuart McCall is under no illusions that Charlton will be a tough test for his side. He told the club website: “I think they’re one of four of five clubs who have got genuine hopes of automatic promotion. They’ve had a steady start but once they’ve got players back from injury they’ll be a real threat.”
The two teams have met 25 times in the past with Charlton winning eight, Bradford winning 11 and the teams sharing the spoils on six occasions, including twice last season.