The Colchester United & Bradford City managers J. McGreal and G. Bowyer are both dreading and looking forward to this decisive game in the upper regions of the League Two league table.
It's no vacation for neither Colchester United nor Bradford City as both were in action only a few days ago. Expect some tired legs on the pitch and/or possibly some changes to the lineups.
Colchester United form and stats
Colchester United have collected 25 points from their League Two home games so far after 7-4-2. Colchester United has a nice streak going on as they have played 13 consecutive games without losing (regardless of home/away). They are keen to extend their tally, a streak that began after the Morecambe defeat 94 days ago.
Colchester United's previous game was a League Two match also played at home, ending 2-1 versus Macclesfield Town (placed 22nd). The home side are looking to build on that result. Before that, Colchester United played out a draw 1-1 when visiting Morecambe.
This is expected to be a close game, with Colchester United perhaps considered small favourites due to their home advantage. Looking back at earlier matches similar to this one (expected to be close with Colchester United as a small favourite), we find eleven games. Colchester United has won 5 of these, drawn 3 and lost 3.
There's a new game coming up fairly quickly for Colchester United as they are travelling to their away game against Exeter City in the League Two. That match is four days after this one.
The Colchester United fans have had their share of opportunities to cheer home goals this season, having seen 20 goals in 13 league matches. Colchester United have only conceded 11 from their league home games. For more goal stats, check the Statistics tab above.
Bradford City form and stats
Playing away, Bradford City have won 3 games, drawn 6 and suffered 4 defeats in the League Two this season.
Bradford City's last game was the home draw against Scunthorpe United (2-2). It was a defeat before that one as the away game against Crawley Town wasn't a success with a 1-2 loss.
It looked so good for Bradford City vs Scunthorpe United, but the job was not completed and victory was lost as a 2-0 lead was turned into a 2-2 draw.
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 four relevant matches. Results were 1 Bradford City win, 1 draw and 2 defeats.
The schedule is very tough for Bradford City now as they have to travel again shortly after this match. A League Two game at Mansfield Town is waiting in only four days.
Bradford City find the net in their away games, although not all the time. 13 goals from 13 away fixtures in the league. 14 goals have been conceded by Bradford City in these games.
Head 2 Head
Head-2-head stats last nine meetings: 4 - 4 - 1 (Colchester United wins - draws - Bradford City wins). As for goals, 4 matches ended with three or more goals (over 2,5), 5 had two or less.Top Goalscorers
  J. Vaughan 11 goals |   L. Norris 'Hacker' 6 goals |  T. Robinson 6 goals |
Colchester United missing players
Bradford City missing players
| Colchester United | Bradford City | ||||||
| Total | Home | vs | Statistics | Stat | vs | Away | Total |
| 27 | 13 | 2 | Played | P | 4 | 13 | 27 |
| 11 | 7 | 1 | Won | W | 0 | 3 | 12 |
| 11 | 4 | 1 | Drew | D | 1 | 6 | 9 |
| 5 | 2 | 0 | Lost | L | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| 38 | 20 | 3 | Scored | S | 5 | 13 | 35 |
| 25 | 11 | 2 | Conceded | C | 8 | 14 | 24 |
| 89% | 92% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 85% | 89% |
| 67% | 69% | 50% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 100% | 69% | 70% |
| 48% | 54% | 50% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 75% | 38% | 44% |
| 26% | 23% | 50% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 25% | 8% | 11% |
| 4% | 0% | 0% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 25% | 8% | 4% |
| 59% | 62% | 50% | BTTS | BTTS | 100% | 69% | 59% |
| 30% | 31% | 50% | Clean Sheets | C S | 0% | 31% | 37% |
| 22% | 15% | 0% | Failed to Score | F T | 0% | 15% | 15% |
| 5.5 | 5.8 | 6.5 | Corners For (avg) | C F | 3.2 | 4.7 | 5.1 |
| 4.1 | 3.5 | 5.5 | Corners Against (avg) | C A | 8 | 6 | 5 |
| 1.4 | 0.8 | 1 | Yellow Cards (avg) | Y C | 1.8 | 1.3 | 1.9 |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | Red Cards | R C | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 362 | 185 | 30 | Total Shots | T S | 40 | 151 | 347 |
| 126 | 64 | 8 | Shots on Target | S O | 7 | 42 | 100 |
| 30% | 31% | 38% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 71% | 31% | 35% |
- Colchester United have played more matches over 2,5 goals home than away.
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Swindon Town | 28 | 16 | 5 | 7 | 49 | 31 | 14 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 24 | 13 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 25 | 18 | 18 | 53 |
| 2 | Exeter City | 27 | 15 | 8 | 4 | 38 | 27 | 13 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 22 | 11 | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 53 |
| 3 | Crewe Alexandra | 26 | 14 | 5 | 7 | 48 | 32 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 27 | 14 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 21 | 18 | 16 | 47 |
| 4 | Plymouth Argyle | 26 | 14 | 5 | 7 | 43 | 27 | 13 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 27 | 13 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 47 |
| 5 | Bradford City | 27 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 35 | 24 | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 22 | 10 | 13 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 45 |
| 6 | Northampton Town | 27 | 13 | 6 | 8 | 40 | 30 | 14 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 25 | 10 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 10 | 45 |
| 7 | Cheltenham Town | 27 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 41 | 22 | 13 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 28 | 14 | 14 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 13 | 8 | 19 | 44 |
| 8 | Colchester United | 27 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 38 | 25 | 13 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 20 | 11 | 14 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 18 | 14 | 13 | 44 |
| 9 | Forest Green Rovers | 28 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 33 | 25 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 21 | 12 | 8 | 44 |
| 10 | Port Vale | 28 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 35 | 33 | 14 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 19 | 11 | 14 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 16 | 22 | 2 | 41 |
| 11 | Newport County | 25 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 25 | 22 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 3 | 36 |
| 12 | Walsall | 28 | 10 | 6 | 12 | 28 | 37 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 17 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 16 | 20 | -9 | 36 |
| 13 | Salford City | 28 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 35 | 39 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 14 | 18 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 21 | 21 | -4 | 35 |
| 14 | Scunthorpe United | 28 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 37 | 40 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 20 | 19 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 17 | 21 | -3 | 32 |
| 15 | Crawley Town | 28 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 36 | 39 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 19 | 16 | 14 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 17 | 23 | -3 | 32 |
| 16 | Cambridge United | 28 | 8 | 7 | 13 | 30 | 37 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 18 | 19 | 14 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 18 | -7 | 31 |
| 17 | Grimsby Town | 26 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 25 | 30 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 18 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 12 | -5 | 30 |
| 18 | Oldham Athletic | 28 | 6 | 11 | 11 | 27 | 42 | 14 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 16 | 19 | 14 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 23 | -15 | 29 |
| 19 | Mansfield Town | 28 | 6 | 9 | 13 | 37 | 45 | 14 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 21 | 27 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 16 | 18 | -8 | 27 |
| 20 | Leyton Orient | 27 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 33 | 44 | 13 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 16 | 23 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 17 | 21 | -11 | 27 |
| 21 | Carlisle United | 27 | 6 | 8 | 13 | 24 | 44 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 18 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 14 | 26 | -20 | 26 |
| 22 | Macclesfield Town | 26 | 6 | 12 | 8 | 25 | 29 | 12 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 13 | 8 | 14 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 21 | -4 | 24 |
| 23 | Stevenage | 28 | 3 | 13 | 12 | 19 | 31 | 14 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 16 | 14 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 15 | -12 | 22 |
| 24 | Morecambe | 28 | 5 | 7 | 16 | 24 | 50 | 14 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 15 | 20 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 9 | 30 | -26 | 22 |