Peterborough v Bradford City: Shot-shy Bantams hit road with spirits still high

MANAGER Stuart McCall insists there is 'no doom and gloom' at Bradford City despite his side still waiting to break their scoring duck after an opening week that included a disappointing first round EFL Cup exit.
Bradford City's Josh Cullen.Bradford City's Josh Cullen.
Bradford City's Josh Cullen.

The Bantams head to Peterborough United for the first of two tough looking away games inside four days, MK Dons being the destination on Tuesday.

Bradford have been unable to bolster their attack in the transfer market, meaning McCall will have to go with a forward line that is yet to find the net after 210 minutes of football.

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A goalless draw at home to Port Vale was followed by another stalemate at Accrington Stanley in the League Cup that ended with the Lancashire side going through to the second round on penalties.

McCall said: “We are disappointed not to have won both games this season, if I am honest. We have had the chances, but just not been able to finish them off.

“Despite that, there is no doom and gloom here. Everyone remains very positive and confident that we can achieve what we want to achieve this season.”

Last season’s 4-0 win at London Road was one of the standout performances of City’s season.

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Josh Cullen, who went on to make a huge impression in the Bantams’ midfield during the final three months of the campaign, made his debut that afternoon as a double from James Hanson plus strikes by Kyel Reid and Steve Davies were enough to clinch what proved to be the Yorkshire club’s joint highest winning margin of the campaign.

The West Ham midfielder is back on loan at Valley Parade and after sitting out the midweek Cup exit at Accrington could make his season’s bow against Posh.

Cullen’s capture in the face of competition from elsewhere was a big coup for McCall, who continues to try to bring in a new striker.

“Everyone in the camp is feeling good,” added the City chief, who will again not include Matthew Kilgallon as the defender builds his fitness. “Our performances have been good, even if we haven’t got the two wins we wanted. It sometimes happens like that.

“In pre-season, we beat Carlisle and yet I wasn’t happy with how we played at all. We were much better against Port Vale and Accrington and I would be worried if the chances weren’t coming.”