Hero Takes A Fall

With Northampton Town parting ways with playing legend Ian Sampson as their manager, Nobes looks at how it worked out for others who made a similar transition at their club.

Club legend Ian Sampson had been in charge at Sixfields for just 16 months

"It's not about Sammo the legend," remarked Northampton chairman David Cardoza when explaining the difficulty of the decision to remove boss Ian Sampson from his position last week.

The Cobblers have experienced a disappointing campaign in League Two. Although expected to challenge for the top seven, new boss Gary Johnson finds his side lying well off the pace in 16th, a full 12 points off the play offs.

Sampson spent a decade serving Town as a player, making the second most appearances in a claret shirt. He then joined the club's coaching staff before replacing Stuart Gray in the top job in September 2010.

He oversaw an encouraging second half of the campaign, eventually steering Northampton to 11th, but has been unable to build on that momentum this term.

Despite a memorable League Cup victory on penalties over Liverpool, it's the bread and butter which has let Town down. Events at Anfield couldn't disguise underachievement at Sixfields.

Not that Sampson is the first, and he won't be the last, to have a go managing the club he represented with distinction as a player. Here's my look at how it turned out for a few others:


Roberto Martinez (Swansea City)

The Spaniard only spent four seasons as a player in South Wales, but became a fans' favourite for his cultured displays in midfield as captain of the Swans.

He helped guide them away from relegation to the Conference in 2003 before playing an important role in their promotion to League One in 2005.

He was controversially released by boss Kenny Jackett at the end of the next season - a move which upset many City fans.

Less than a year later he had returned to the Liberty to replace Jackett as manager and took them to the League One title in his first full season playing a brand of attractive passing football.

Consolidated them in the Championship before leaving for Wigan - arguably laying the foundations for Swansea's current push for the Premier League.


Bryan Gunn (Norwich City)

A Scot by birth, Gunn is an adopted son of Norfolk after spending more than a decade between the sticks as Norwich keeper.

He was twice voted player of the season during his time at Carrow Road, and was part of the side which, in 1993, finish 3rd in the Premier League - the club's highest ever finish.

A member of the Norwich team who upset Bayern Munich in the UEFA Cup during the '90s as well as the Canaries' Hall of Fame. There's even a club at the ground named after him.

Initially was a goalkeeping coach at City before stepping up to replace Glenn Roeder as boss in January 2009. However, he was unable to stop Norwich sliding into League One at the end of the season.

He retained his post only to be removed after the first game of the new season, a 7-1 thrashing at home to Colchester.


Eddie Howe (Bournemouth)

Howe joined his local club as a youngster and spent the majority of his playing career with Bournemouth before leaving for Portsmouth in 2002.

However, he suffered an injury-hit time at Fratton Park and eventually re-joined the Cherries, initially on loan, before fans helped raise money to re-sign him permanently.

He progressed to the role of reserve team boss before taking over as caretaker manager from Jimmy Quinn with the club staring relegation to the Conference in the face.

The Football League's youngest boss engineered a great escape, despite an 18-point deduction. Then, last term, not even a transfer embargo could prevent him leading the Cherries to promotion to the third tier.

Before leaving to take over at Championship Burnley in January, Howe had taken Bournemouth into contention for back-to-back promotions.


John Askey (Macclesfield Town)

When Askey first joined the Silkmen, they were plying their trade in to the Northern Premier League. However, he helped them win the title in 1987 and gain promotion to the Conference.

During his time at the Moss Rose as a player, Macc twice won the Conference title and also secured the FA Trophy before finally reaching the Football League in 1997.

Twelve months later, Askey had again played a major role in Sammy McIlroy's side's elevation to League One as they secured successive promotions.

By the time of his final game for the club in 2003 he was assistant to boss David Moss, and stepped up to replace Moss a few months later - overseeing an improvement in results for the struggling Silkmen.

As they began to struggle again though he stepped down to assist the experienced Brian Horton as Macclesfield avoided the drop and then qualified for the play offs in 2005. Now in charge of the Town Youth Team.


Steve Tilson (Southend United)

As a player with Southend in the '90s, Tilson was part of the Shrimpers side who secured back-to-back promotions into the Championship.

After retiring as a player he joined the club's Centre of Excellence before being named caretaker manager of the first team in 2003 after the departure of Steve Wignall.

Tilson helped keep United in League Two and guided them to consecutive Football League Trophy finals, although they ended up on the losing side on both occasions.

However, in his first full season he took Southend to promotion via the play offs and a year later they had repeated his feat as a player - winning back-to-back promotions as League One winners.

He couldn't keep them in the Championship though, and eventually left the club after financial problems condemned them to relegation to League Two last season. Now at Lincoln.


Stuart McCall (Bradford City)

The Yorkshireman began his career at Bradford and during his first spell at the club was part of their third tier title winning side in 1985.

He returned to the Bantams in 1998 and captained them as they secured a place in the top flight of English football for the first time in 77 years.

They stayed there for a couple of years and, after retiring and spending time assisting Neil Warnock at Sheffield United, McCall returned to Valley Parade for a third time in 2007.

On this occasion it was as manager, with the club newly relegated to the basement division. Despite lofty expectations, he failed to guide them to the play offs in his first two seasons.

Persuaded to stay on by supporters, he eventually resigned midway through his third campaign - again with the Bantams struggling to make the top seven. Now managing at Motherwell.


Jim Gannon (Stockport County)

As player with Stockport, Gannon spent a decade helping the Hatters to two Football League Trophy finals as well as a couple of promotions.

Hugely popular with the Edgeley Park faithful, after retirement and a move into management in Ireland, the club turned to him to aid their battle against relegation to the Conference in 2005.

He helped them escape the drop on the final day of the season and then transformed them into a young side playing good football which, two years later, won promotion via the play offs.

However, County's financial turmoil saw him unable to take the club much further, and they only narrowly avoided the drop back to the basement division.

He was made redundant by cost-cutting County at the conclusion of the 2008/9 season. Now at Port Vale, but is constantly linked with a return to the Stockport job.


Mick Harford (Luton Town)

Often voted the best ever player for the Bedfordshire club, Harford spent six years with Luton during the 1980s.

During his time with the Hatters, he helped Ray Harford's men win the 1988 League Cup and preserve their top flight status. He also appeared for the England senior side.

He spent a short spell at Derby before returning to Kenilworth Road again, almost scoring the goals to keep Town amongst the country's elite. However, he left after relegation.

Harford was assistant to Joe Kinnear in 2001, helping Luton win promotion from League Two before leaving a couple of years later. He returned as manager himself in 2008, with the cash-strapped Hatters facing relegation back to the basement division.

Docked 30 points, he was at the helm as Luton crashed into the Conference in 2009, but did secure them the Football League Trophy. He left the club early on last term after a poor start to the campaign.


Ronnie Moore (Rotherham United)

Now in his second spell as manager of the Millers, Moore has a long and successful connection with the South Yorkshire club.

He first went to the club as a player in the '80s. His goalscoring exploits over three years made him a terrace favourite and saw him recently voted United's greatest ever player.

In 1997, he returned to Millmoor as manager and guided the club to successive promotions to the Championship where, despite a comparatively small budget, he kept them for four seasons.

Eventually, with relegation looking likely, he departed in 2005. However, he returned to Rotherham last season to replace Mark Robins.

Moore took the Millers to the play off final where they were beaten by Dagenham. They are once again in contention for promotion from League Two this term.


Brian Tinnion (Bristol City)

Despite being a man of the North East, 450 appearances over 12 years as a player at Ashton Gate means Bristol is the city most associated with Tinnion.

He was part of the Robins side who fluctuated between the second and third tiers during the '90s - winning promotion in 1998 but suffering relegation in 1995 and 1999.

Working with the club's youth system, Tinnion was already being groomed for the top job before becoming a player coach under Danny Wilson as City once again fought for promotion from League One.

He replaced Wilson as manager after successive play off failures, but in his first year at the helm Tinnion was unable to even guide the Robins into the top six.

A poor start to the next season saw him resign from his post following a 7-1 thrashing at Swansea left City in the relegation zone.

Like The Proverbial Millstone

One of the pre season favourites for promotion from League Two but struggling at the wrong end, Nobes looks at the continued failings of Bradford City in the basement division.

The experienced Peter Taylor failed to turn Bradford into promotion challengers

Never have so many been disappointed by so few. These are tough times at Bradford City, a club whose decade of decline seemingly shows no sign of ending.

Ten years ago they were in the top flight, playing in front of packed houses against the cream of the Premier League.

Now they sit 20th in the basement division - yet still attract average crowds of over 10,000. If the league table was decided on attendances, City would be top by a distance.

It's testament to the loyalty of the Bantams fan base, who have had precious little to cheer about as they have watched their club, crippled by excessive spending during their Premier League zenith, tumble down the leagues.

All that's left as a reminder is their Valley Parade ground - an impressive stadium on two sides acting as a memorial to better days.

Indeed, the ground itself, half Premier League and half lower league in its appearance, almost acts as a metaphor for the West Yorkshire club themselves. There's potential at Bradford - yet they remain rooted in the fourth tier.

The reality, too, is that Valley Parade, like the proverbial millstone, is actually proving to be a hindrance in their quest to progress back up the Football League ladder.

It was estimated last season that costs to cover running the 25,000 arena ran to £1.2 million - a sizeable proportion of their budget for the year and undoubtedly impacting on their playing resources.

Not that Bradford's finances and the squad they have assembled translate to the lowly position they currently occupy.

When you consider the achievement of Dagenham & Redbridge last term too, then it can't be said that City don't have a big enough budget to mount a promotion campaign.

Yet they have struggled to do just that during their four years in League Two - a stay which was supposed to have been as short as it was sweet. Bantams supporters once hoping for a quick escape are now just praying for any kind of escape.

Well, as long as it's upwards - and their worrying slide towards the bottom two culminated in the resignation of Peter Taylor, who oversaw his final game during last weekend's vital 3-2 win over struggling Stockport.

It ensured the 58-year-old at least ended on a high note during a season he described as the most surprising and disappointing he had endured in the game in over two decades.

It's an indication of how expectations have been revised that the former Leicester boss spoke afterwards about the club using the win as a springboard to help keep them in a division they had hoped for promotion from.

In truth though, barring a run of four wins from five which saw them just a win off the top seven at the beginning of November, the Bantams have never looked like justifying the hype that accompanied them in pre season.

Interim Bantams boss Peter Jackson led Huddersfield to play off success in 2004

It's become a familiar story over recent years with pundits always backing City to earn promotion only for them to fail to even mount a sustained challenge for the play offs.

Stuart McCall, a legend on the terraces from his playing days, could only manage top half finishes of 10th and 9th - before being persuaded not to resign and to stay on to try once more.

Eventually, in a move that did him and the club great credit, McCall fell on his own sword after another disappointing campaign. No compensation to be paid, no rash sacking administered, no hard feelings.

The experienced Taylor, who along with QPR's Neil Warnock has more Football League promotions to his name than anyone else, seemed a perfect choice to replace him.

In his previous League Two job he had taken Wycombe to promotion in his first full season. Not even his knack of getting teams challenging at the summit has rubbed off in West Yorkshire though.

Former Lincoln boss Peter Jackson has been placed in temporary charge as the club survey their options. A proud and passionate Yorkshireman, Jackson took City's local rivals Huddersfield to promotion from League Two in 2004.

As a player he captained the club to the League One title in the mid-1980s and, despite his Huddersfield links, should unite City's large fan base in a way Taylor never could for however long he remains at the helm.

Whether he is the right man for the long term is a different issue. Although his record with Huddersfield deserves respect, his spell at Lincoln saw a relegation battle won, and an expected promotion challenge fail to materialise.

Ultimately, a poor start to last season saw him leave Sincil Bank - albeit it was a decision which appeared both harsh and premature. He will feel he has a point to prove and would relish the opportunity to restore glory to his hometown club.

City though are rumoured to have approached fellow League Two side Accrington Stanley to speak to their boss John Coleman.

The fiery Liverpudlian has been in residence at the Lancashire side for 12 years - taking Stanley into the Football League and, despite working with the division's smallest budget, is on course to secure them a sixth successive year in the 92 club.

It's a remarkable achievement for a man who encourages his team to play football but also knows what is required to handle the rough and tumble that is part and parcel of life in the lower divisions.

His work on the other side of the Pennines also proves that he is a man who can work to a budget - although resources at Bradford would be much greater - and who is able to build lasting foundations at a club.

It may be just what City require at this moment in time. After years of spiralling downwards, now is the time for some vision and long-term planning for a brighter future. Coleman has shown he can create a dynasty and, given the chance, could do the same on a greater stage.

Whoever they decide to appoint, Bradford must ensure that there is no further nadir. This particular Valley simply can't afford to plunge any lower down.

Top Of The Flops

With Gordon Strachan resigning as Middlesbrough boss following a disastrous start to the season, Nobes looks at pre-season favourites of the past who failed to live up to expectations.

Things went badly wrong for Gordon Strachan at the Riverside

Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised by Middlesbrough, most bookies favourites for the Championship title, struggling towards the start of the season. After all, they received the ultimate kiss of death when even the Soccer AM/MW backed them.

Gordon Strachan should have been preparing to pack his bags there and then - and I'm reliably informed he frequents the site often. He'll have even more time to do so now.

Granted, there's still plenty of time for things to turn around at the Riverside - but failure to do so and, after some heavy summer spending, this Teessiders team will go down in history as one of the game's biggest flops.

Not that they're the first team to fail to live up to such huge pre-season hype though. Here's my rundown of the Top Ten Flops of recent seasons.


10. Millwall - 2006/7

After relegation from the Championship the previous season, the Lions overhauled their squad - investing good money into bouncing back at the first attempt.

Alas though, they decided to hire Nigel Spackman as their manager, and he continued his woeful managerial record at the start of the campaign.

The Londoners collected just five points from their opening ten games, earning Spackman the boot and replacement Willie Donachie having to pull them out of the mire.

They ended up 10th, way short of even a spot in the play offs.


9. Oxford United - 2001/2

There was an air of gloom around Oxford United in 2001 - the club had ended their time at Manor Ground with relegation from the third tier.

Step forward former Oxen player, local boy done good, and ex-England international - Mark Wright. He had impressed in his first manager's job at Southport and seemed like the man to get Oxford moving again.

He wasn't. The squad looked strong, vastly experienced, and well capable of challenging at the right end.

With 19 games played and sitting just three points off the bottom, Wright - already suspended by the FA after alleged racist comments to a match day official - resigned.

Successor Ian Atkins inherited a shambles of a squad which ended up a pitiful 21st with just 47 points to their name.


8. Hull City - 2002/3

Tigers Tigers burning bright. The future looked optimistic for Hull in the summer of 2002.

Their money troubles behind them, a new ground on the way, and a big name manager proven in the lower leagues.

Everyone was tipping City to finally realise their potential. However, things didn't quite go according to plan for Jan Molby.

The Tigers registered just 12 points from their first 12 games and a loss at Kidderminster - the club Molby had walked out on months earlier to join Hull - saw his reign brought to a quick end.

Peter Taylor assumed control, but even he failed to turn around their fortunes. Despite resources the envy of the rest of the division, they ended the season in 13th.


7. Leeds United - 2006/7

Leeds had ended the previous campaign as losing play off finalists to Watford. Hopes were high that Kevin Blackwell's side could now go one better.

Perhaps it was a reaction to their close miss a few months earlier, but the Yorkshire side got off to a miserable start and the manager was fired after just eight games.

He left United in the bottom three, but with enough time and a squad more than capable of getting themselves out of trouble.

So you'd think. Replacement Dennis Wise failed to get the most out a team that had come to within 90 minutes of the Premier League and Leeds dropped out of the division with a whimper having entered administration.


6. Sheffield Wednesday - 2003/4

How the mighty had fallen. Wednesday had been a staple of the top flight during the previous decade, but fell down to League One in 2003.

Boss Chris Turner revamped his squad - aiming to steer his home town club back up at the first attempt.

They almost did make it out of League One - but at the wrong end. The Owls ended up 16th - just three points above the relegation zone and a place in the basement division.

Financially troubled off the pitch, perhaps, but Wednesday's squad's toiling and finishing below the likes of Wrexham and Hartlepool was embarrassing.


5. Bradford City - 2007-10

Still flopping. The pre-season choice for League Two winners of every national newspaper for the past four seasons, City continue to disappoint.

They were relegated to the basement division in 2007, promptly installed legend Stuart McCall as manager, and sold 13,000 season tickets on the cheap.

McCall failed to get them even challenging for the top seven for two-and-a-half years before Peter Taylor was appointed his successor.

Last season's positive end has been followed by a dreadful start this term though - they currently sit in 19th. Still time to turn it around and avoid another flop.


4. Ipswich Town - 2009/10

Resources. Check. Money invested. Check. Decent crowds. Check. Proven manager at this level. Check.

Everything seemed set up for Ipswich last season. How they could fail to challenge now Roy Keane was manager?

How? Try not recording a win in their first 14 games - a run which left them bottom of the table.

Albeit there were plenty of draws in that run - which saw Keane avoid an early axe - but Town fans were not getting value for considerable money.

The Suffolk outfit ended the campaign in 15th - well short of a place in the top six, which had been the minimum requirement.


3. Nottingham Forest - 2005/6

Forest made history in 2005 when they became the first winner of the European Cup to drop into their country's third tier of domestic football.

Their embarrassment didn't stop there though. Despite the lower league experience of manager Gary Megson, Forest failed to get to grips with life in League One.

When Megson was eventually sacked - they sat just four points shy of the bottom four and a possible second successive relegation.

Ultimately, a late rally at the end of the term saw them just miss out on a place in the play offs. A talented squad had made a complete meal of the season though.


2. Coventry City - 2001/2

He may yet get onto a future list with Boro but, for now, Gordon Strachan will have to make do with this failure at Coventry.

The Warwickshire side had just been relegated from the top flight under the Scot after over 30 years amongst the country's elite.

However, they were determined to bounce back immediately - ambition illustrated by the £5 million signing of West Brom striker Lee Hughes.

Three losses in their first five games saw Strachan dismissed though, and replacement Roland Nilsson was unable to coax any consistency out of one of the division's strongest squads.

An end of season 11th place was well below-par, particularly as a Hughes-less West Brom went on to gain promotion.


1. Bristol Rovers - 2001/2

You could probably excuse Rovers for still being in a state of shock when they began their League Two campaign in 2001.

Just 12 months after finishing 7th in the third tier, they had been relegated down to the basement division. Unthinkable.

Still, at least they had retained a strong squad - including promising striker Nathan Ellington. At least they would walk all over opponents and gain promotion with ex-Spurs boss and club legend Gerry Francis in charge.

How wrong they were. Francis was a flop, and the Gas ended the campaign in 23rd - second bottom of the entire 92 club and the lowest position in the club's entire history.

Had they done the same 12 months later, they would have been relegated into the Conference. Rovers got lucky.

Bantams' wait a shining example

The former England captain in disgrace and the shambolic running of a Premier League club seeing them transferred to their fourth different owner this season.

Last week was not a clever one at the top level of the English game. It's pleasing therefore, that this one begins with a positive story from the lower leagues.

This is the story of a manager leaving a club. Not usually an act to be applauded, except from those fans happy to see the man in charge given the boot.

However, Stuart McCall's decision to quit as manager of Bradford City following Saturday's 1-0 defeat at home to Bury should serve as an inspiration to all other clubs and managers in the game.

Let me explain why.

McCall's decision to leave the Bantams with the club lying 16th in League Two is an admirable one from the former City captain.

When he was appointed prior to the 2007/8 campaign, he was charged with helping the West Yorkshire outift bounce back to League One at the first attempt.

A stalwart of the club's years in the Premier League, he was a popular choice with supporters who, thanks to some good pricing, bought season tickets in their thousands - confident of a return to the good times.

It was a frustrating experience for the majority of the 13,000 crowd who regularly turned up at Valley Parade on a Saturday afternoon though.

City finished 10th, not even good enough for a play-off place, and below the likes of Rochdale and Hereford. Never mind.

Bradford chairman Julian Rhodes stood by his man, as did the fans. Again, the club toiled in mid-table, struggling to make the play-offs.

It prompted the manager to declare he would resign if City failed to make the top seven at the end of the season. They didn't, finishing 9th, but the support of the fans and his board persuaded McCall to stay on.

However, just one win in their last seven games this term has seen the club fall 12 points off the coveted play-offs. This time McCall has fallen on his sword, saving the club from any paying any potential compensation.

In his post-match interview after the Shakers defeat, he sounded like a man who had given the job his best shot, but it just wasn't good enough, stating that he wanted to do "what's best for the club." He should be applauded.

McCall was the fifth longest serving manager in League Two

So too should Rhodes, his board, and the City fans. Some of the latter are still willing to give him more time. Perhaps it's the value of being a club legend that some fans have the patience of a saint with you.

You get the feeling this was something all those connected with Bradford desperately hoped would work out. The fans wanted to see him succeed, and will be sad to see him go despite things not going as well as they would have hoped for.

In an era where hiring and firing managers has reached a ridiculous level, the City board deserve a lot of credit too for their support and patience.

It would have been very easy to dismiss McCall, but they wanted to give him as long as possible to turn things around.

Maybe it's a sad reflection of the state of football that two-and-a-half years is considered a long stint in the modern game, but it is.

Indeed, had the club shown signs of progress and found themselves on the fringes of the play-offs this term, it's likely today's events wouldn't be happening and McCall would still be in his job.

The reality for Bradford now though is the start of a search for a replacement. It's a vacancy which shouldn't be short of applicants either.

The Valley Parade job is one of the biggest in League Two, with a club with a competitve budget who can really only go upwards from this point.

Whoever the new man is though, you hope Bradford will continue to offer the same level of time and patience to him.

For, even with them languishing in the bottom half of their division, when it comes to supporting a manager - the Bantams have set the standard.

Nobes.

Big Match Review - Bradford 2 Crewe 3

League Two

Bradford City 2-3 Crewe Alexandra

Saturday October 10, Valley Parade, Att: 11,757

Calvin Zola scored twice as Crewe upset the form book to end their run of five straight defeats and inflict a first defeat in nine matches on Bradford City in an entertaining affair at Valley Parade.

The visitors got off to the perfect start when Zola found the back of the net in spectacular style after just eight minutes. The forward latching onto a throw-in down the line to smash the ball over Bantams 'keeper Simon Eastwood and into the net from an acute angle.

Alex were on top and could have doubled their advantage after a quick breakaway unleashed Joel Grant. However, his mazy run ended in a shot which struck Eastwood's upright and rebounded to safety.

Dario Gradi's side weren't to be denied a second though. Zola again, this time with a sweeping finish from outside the box, after some careless defending from the home side.

Bradford hit back though, and were unlucky not to score when Michael Boulding's close range drive rattled off the crossbar. However, the same man helped bring City back into the match just before the break. A header from Chris Brandon's cross reducing the deficit.

Just after the hour mark though, Crewe had restored their two-goal advantage. Steven Schumacher, playing against his former club, with a long-range effort that bounced past the despairing dive of Eastwood.

Stuart McCall's side responded almost immediately. Boulding turned provider for James Hanson to acrobatically volley Bradford back into contention with twenty minutes remaining.

However, despite plenty of late pressure, City failed to find an equaliser leaving Crewe to take all three points back home to Cheshire.

Big Match Preview

League Two

Bradford City vs. Crewe Alexandra

Saturday October 10, 15:00, Valley Parade

As recently as 2002, Dario Gradi's Crewe faced up to a Bradford side including Stuart McCall in the Championship. Seven years later, and the pair meet in the dugout in the basement division as the Alex make the trip to West Yorkshire.

For the visitors, Gradi has returned as manager in a temporary capacity after the sacking of Gudjon Thordarson. Four successive losses spelled the end for the Icelander, and 68-year-old Gradi has stepped into the breach.

His first game, a 3-2 defeat to Rotherham last week, continued what's been a disappointing start to the season for the Railwaymen, relegated from League One last May.

Defensive frailties have been at the heart of Crewe's troubles. Fifteen goals have been leaked in the last five games and Gradi has been busy in the transfer market strengthening his backline with the signing of Carl Martin from Non-League Wealdstone.

Currently languishing in 17th, the Cheshire club were expected to challenge for the top-seven, and with the strike power of Calvin Zola and Joel Grant, who have notched up nine goals between them so far, they have goals in the side if they can stop conceding at the other end.

And Alex have already recorded two wins on the road this season, at Darlington and Grimsby, so will go to Bradford hopeful of getting some kind of result.

However, Stuart McCall's hosts are on a strong run and looking to extend their unbeaten record in League Two to nine games.

Stuart McCall is in his third season in charge at Valley Parade

It follows what had been a slow start to the season for the Bantams. An opening day 5-0 defeat at Notts County was the first of three games where City failed to find the back of the net.

Then, an extraordinary 5-4 win at Cheltenham began an upturn in fortunes which has taken the club through to the third round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, and secured impressive wins over high-flyers Rochdale, Shrewsbury, and Chesterfield.

Currently lying 9th in the League Two standings, leading lights in the team include midfielders Michael Flynn and Chris Brandon, who have both scored three goals this season, and strikers Gareth Evans and Michael Boulding.

It's a clash therefore between two teams on contrasting runs and with varying degrees of confidence. Gradi should transform Crewe's fortunes, and must look to plug holes at the back.

A trip to in-form Bradford probably wouldn't have been his choice of fixture to turn things around in though, and all three points should remain at Valley Parade after this particular game.

Nobes' Prediction: Bradford City 2 Crewe Alexandra 1