National cups are something special for many teams and supporters. Today's match will decide whether it's Salford City or Bradford City that keep their silverware dream alive.
There’s little time for restitution or working hard at the training pitch these days, with both teams having played their last game less than four days ago.
Salford City form and stats
Salford City have not come this way in the EFL Trophy without some hard work on the way, more precisely defeating Rochdale, Liverpool U21 and Accrington Stanley. Salford City was eliminated in the group stage last season in the EFL Trophy.3 victories, 3 draws and 4 defeats. That’s what Salford City have to build on here at The Peninsula Stadium in the League Two.
Salford's previous game was also a home match, the defeat 1-4 versus Carlisle United. Watt (midfield) was the top team player in that game with a rating of 7.44/10. Watt hit three key passes and dribled past the opponent 1 of 1 times.
Ahead of that game, a home defeat in the FA Cup against Peterborough United. This is expected to be a close game, with Salford City perhaps considered small favourites due to their home advantage. Looking back at earlier matches similar to this one (expected to be close with Salford City as a small favourite), we find 10 games. Salford City has won 2 of these, drawn 5 and lost 3.
Salford's goalkeeper has had to pick the ball out of their own net 11 times. For more goal stats, check the Statistics tab above.
Bradford City form and stats
The traveling awayteam has defeated Burton Albion, Sheffield Wednesday and Leicester U21 in order to reach 2nd round of EFL Trophy. Bradford City was sent out of EFL Trophy in the group stage last season.Bradford City's travelling support has been rewarded for their time and money so far this season, having witnessed Bradford City collect 19 points from their 9 away matches in the League Two. 6 victories and 1 draw have created these points (and only 2 defeats).
Bradford City might have something to prove in this game as they lost at home in their previous match. Northampton Town proved too strong as Bradford City slumped to a 1-3 defeat in front of their own fans at Northern Commercials Stadium. Cook has bagged at least one goal for this team three games in a row. The smartness! Cook, attacking player, was the top performer on the team in that game, scoring a match rating of 7.41. Cook scored one goal and hit one key pass.
Preceding that game was the away League Two victory against Sutton United with the score of 2-0.So, this is expected to be a close game, an even contest. Looking at earlier matches with Bradford City playing away and similar expectations, we found 9 relevant matches. Results were 2 Bradford City wins, 3 draws and 4 defeats.
The travelling fans enjoy Bradford's attacking play in away games, having scored 14 goals in 9 league matches away. It's not easy to score on Bradford City as they have only conceded 8 goals from these away games.
Head 2 Head
Head-2-head stats last seven meetings: four - one - two (Salford City wins - draws - Bradford City wins). As for goals, two matches ended with three or more goals (over 2,5), five had two or less.
Top Goalscorers
  A. Cook 13 goals |   R. Watson 3 goals |  S. Banks 3 goals |
Salford City missing players
Bradford City missing players
| Salford City | Bradford City | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 13 | Played | P | 10 | 25 | ||
| 9 | 4 | Won | W | 6 | 11 | ||
| 7 | 4 | Drew | D | 1 | 7 | ||
| 9 | 5 | Lost | L | 3 | 7 | ||
| 25 | 12 | Scored | S | 14 | 34 | ||
| 29 | 15 | Conceded | C | 12 | 28 | ||
| 84% | 85% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 90% | 88% | ||
| 56% | 62% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 70% | 72% | ||
| 40% | 38% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 60% | 56% | ||
| 20% | 15% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 30% | 28% | ||
| 12% | 8% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 10% | 4% | ||
| 36% | 31% | BTTS | BTTS | 50% | 56% | ||
| 40% | 38% | Clean Sheets | C S | 30% | 28% | ||
| 40% | 46% | Failed to Score | F T | 30% | 28% | ||
| 4.4 | 5.2 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 4.6 | 5.2 | ||
| 4.9 | 4.8 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 5.9 | 6.5 | ||
| 1.8 | 1.6 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 1.9 | 1.6 | ||
| 0 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 1 | 3 | ||
| 11.5 | 12 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 10.3 | 11.8 | ||
| 3.4 | 3.5 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 2 | 2.4 | ||
| 29% | 26% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 70% | 57% | ||
| 12.2 | 11.4 | Shots against (avg) | S A | 9.8 | 11.2 | ||
| 3.3 | 3 | Shots on Target against (avg) | S O | 2.5 | 3 | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Leyton Orient | 19 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 30 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 4 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 8 | 18 | 45 |
| 2 | Stevenage | 19 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 26 | 16 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 40 |
| 3 | Northampton Town | 19 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 34 | 20 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 10 | 14 | 38 |
| 4 | Barrow | 19 | 11 | 1 | 7 | 27 | 19 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 34 |
| 5 | Bradford City | 19 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 26 | 17 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 8 | 9 | 33 |
| 6 | Carlisle United | 19 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 30 | 20 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 13 | 8 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 17 | 12 | 10 | 32 |
| 7 | Swindon Town | 19 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 24 | 19 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 31 |
| 8 | Mansfield Town | 19 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 27 | 26 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 13 | 1 | 30 |
| 9 | Salford City | 19 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 20 | 18 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 28 |
| 10 | Doncaster Rovers | 19 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 23 | 25 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 15 | -2 | 28 |
| 11 | Walsall | 19 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 23 | 17 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 27 |
| 12 | Tranmere Rovers | 19 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 19 | 16 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 26 |
| 13 | AFC Wimbledon | 19 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 24 | 24 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 14 | 0 | 26 |
| 14 | Stockport County | 19 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 24 | 22 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 12 | 2 | 25 |
| 15 | Crewe Alexandra | 18 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 17 | 20 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 12 | -3 | 25 |
| 16 | Grimsby Town | 18 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 20 | 18 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 8 | 2 | 24 |
| 17 | Sutton United | 19 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 17 | 25 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 15 | -8 | 22 |
| 18 | Newport County | 19 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 18 | 22 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 13 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 9 | -4 | 19 |
| 19 | Crawley Town | 18 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 20 | 30 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 17 | -10 | 17 |
| 20 | Harrogate Town | 19 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 20 | 29 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 14 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 15 | -9 | 16 |
| 21 | Rochdale | 19 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 13 | 25 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 14 | -12 | 15 |
| 22 | Colchester United | 19 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 17 | 26 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 15 | -9 | 14 |
| 23 | Gillingham | 18 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 21 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 13 | -15 | 13 |
| 24 | Hartlepool United | 19 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 16 | 34 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 23 | -18 | 12 |
- Salford City FC
- Salford City News - (local newspaper)
- Bradford City
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- The Cows Arse BCFC Forum - (supporter forum)
