Pre-Match Programme: Bradford (Park Avenue) vs Brighouse Town

August 20, 2024 Off By admin

Bradford (Park Avenue) will be eager to put their FA Cup disappointment behind them as they return to league action tonight with a home clash against local rivals Brighouse Town.

After bowing out of the FA Cup with a 3-2 defeat to Stocksbridge Park Steels, the Avenue will be keen to bounce back and secure their second league win of the season.

Currently sitting 13th in the table, Bradford have had a mixed start to their campaign with one win and one loss in their opening two matches. Their most recent performance in the FA Cup confirmed the concerns of supporters about the new squad’s ability to push for promotion as the club promised. Particularly of concern are the defensive lapses that saw the side fall behind from the get-go. Despite a spirited fightback in the second half, it was ultimately too little, too late for the Avenue.

Brighouse Town, meanwhile, have endured a difficult start to the season and are still searching for their first win. The visitors are 16th in the league, having recorded two draws and a loss in their opening fixtures. Their league campaign began with a 5-1 drubbing away to Cleethorpes Town, followed by two draws against Bridlington Town and Ossett Town. Additionally, their FA Cup journey was cut short in the extra preliminary round, where they lost on penalties to Barnoldswick Town after a gruelling replay contest.

Brighouse have struggled defensively, a concern highlighted by their manager Grant Black after the Cleethorpes defeat. Missing key players due to suspension and injury has only compounded their problems, though they showed resilience by coming from behind in both the FA Cup replay and their recent draw against Bridlington Town. Brighouse will be looking to tighten up at the back as they aim to claim their first victory of the season.

For Bradford, this match represents an opportunity to steady the ship and regain some confidence. Manager Danny Whitaker will be urging his team to start strongly and avoid the early setbacks that have plagued their recent matches. Players like Alex Francis, who scored in the FA Cup loss, and Connor Shanks, who who also netted late on, will be crucial as the Avenue seek to capitalise on Brighouse’s defensive vulnerabilities.

Players to Watch

Bradford (Park Avenue) – Kareem Hassan-Smith: The wingback has quickly made his mark in the Avenue squad with a consistency that looks to be lacking elsewhere on the field.

Brighouse Town – Myron Gibbons: Ever present in the Brighouse line up over the last two seasons, Gibbons was instrumental in the side’s comeback against Barnoldswick.

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Head To Head: Bradford (Park Avenue) vs Brighouse Town

Despite being close geographically, the two sides have only met eight times in the past, and only three of those were in competitive fixtures.

Their first encounter dates back to February 2009 in a West Riding County Cup quarter-final, where Avenue emerged victorious with a convincing 4-1 win after coming from behind. Brighouse, however, earned a measure of revenge the following year with a last-minute 1-0 win in a pre-season friendly on home soil.

Over the years, Avenue has generally had the upper hand in pre-season fixtures, including a notable 4-1 victory at Brighouse in 2011 and a thrilling 3-2 win in 2014, where Chib Chilaka’s brace helped secure the result. However, in November 2018, Brighouse delivered a stunning 5-1 victory in the County Cup, taking advantage of an Avenue side that featured several academy players. The most recent competitive clash came in November 2022, when the two sides met again in the County Cup. Despite a spirited performance from Avenue’s young side, the match ended in a 1-1 draw, with Brighouse advancing after a penalty shoot-out.

Date	Home	Score	Away	Competition
28/11/2022	Bradford (Park Avenue)	1-1 (4-1 on penalties)	Brighouse Town	West Riding County Cup
30/07/2021	Brighouse Town	2 – 5	Bradford (Park Avenue)	Friendly
13/07/2019	Brighouse Town	2 – 3	Bradford (Park Avenue)	Friendly
05/11/2018	Brighouse Town	5 – 1	Bradford (Park Avenue)	West Riding County Cup
2014	Brighouse Town	2 – 3	Bradford (Park Avenue)	Friendly
July 2011	Brighouse Town	4 – 1	Bradford (Park Avenue)	Friendly
2010	Brighouse Town	1 – 0	Bradford (Park Avenue)	Friendly
February 2009	Bradford (Park Avenue)	4 – 1	Brighouse Town	West Riding County Cup

Credit: Our thanks go to Avenue club historian Tim Clapham for his incredible insights.

Predicted Result: Avenue Win

With both teams eager to prove a point, this encounter promises to be a tightly contested affair. For Bradford (Park Avenue), it’s a chance to get back to winning ways and build momentum in the league, while Brighouse Town will be desperate to turn their season around and climb out of the lower reaches of the table. That being said, we think that Bradford will edge it thanks to some of the attacking talent available.