Our prediction for this League 2 match:
Bradford City and Rochdale face each other at Valley Parade in a postponed League Two game. The Bantams have been showing signs of improvement at the start of 2023, with the team beating both Harrogate and Salford in the last two league matches. Bradford City are eyeing their third consecutive win at home ground, and seeing that Mark Hughes has no fresh injury worries, home win should be considered. Andy Cook, who has netted 13 goals so far this season, is pushing for a start.
The Dale, on the other hand, failed to find the net in the previous three league meetings with Bradford City, and given the Bantams’ current form, home win should be considered. Liam Kelly is expected to drop to the bench, with Abraham Odoh likely to step up. Experienced attacker Scott Quigley should be deployed up front as a lone forward.
Highlighted Player (Liam Kelly):
Born in Newport Pagnell, England Liam Kelly is a right-footed midfielder who plays for Coventry City in the League One. Kelly is a product of Milton Keynes Dons football school, but he did not play for the club at senior level. The English footballer started his senior career at Scottish club Kilmarnock, but after making 100 appearances in the league for the Killie, he moved to England, signing a three-and-a-half-year deal with Bristol City.
The English footballer played for the likes of Oldaham Athletic and Leyton Orient as well before joining Coventry City in the summer of 2017. His main position is central midfielder, but he is capable of playing as both defensive and right midfielder as well.
His preferred foot is right. He made his league debut with Coventry City on August 5, 2017 in a 3-0 win over Notts County, while scoring his first goal for the club in a 3-1 win over Stevenage in April, 2018.
Highlighted Team (Rochdale):
Nicknamed the Dale, Rochdale are a professional English club that compete in the League One (English third tier). Rochdale were founded back in 1907, after World War I, with the team beating Accrington Stanley 6-3 in their first league game 14 years later.
The Dale wear blue shirts with black stripes and blue shorts when playing at home, whilst gray is the dominant colour of their away kit. Spotland Stadium is the club’s home ground, with the venue holding no more than 10,249 spectators. Bury and Oldham Athletic are considered the club’s fiercest rivals, but they have built up rivalries with the likes of Halifax Town, Burnley, Stockport County, Wigan Athletic and Accrington Stanley as well.
Back in 1962 Rochdale made it to the Football League Cup final, with the team facing Norwich City in the title game. The Canaries proved to be a big catch for the Dale, but this is still considered the club’s biggest success. It has to be noted that the Spotland Stadium outfit have three Lancashire Cup titles as well (1948/1949, 1970/1971, 2004/2005).