Opposition lowdown: Bradford City

"What have you made of the season so far?

"If you’d have asked me this question two months ago, you’d have received a VERY different answer.

"The first 16 games under Stuart McCall were, to put it lightly, a total disaster.

"Thankfully, under the new management team we’ve managed to totally turn the ship around and have suddenly gone from staring down the barrel of a first relegation to non-league football in our history to looking towards a push into the top half of the table.

"Like almost every season at Bradford City, it’s been a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs, things are never boring at this club.

Was more expected of this season than the current league placing?

"Absolutely. Although a large section of the fanbase saw this coming in pre-season.

"Once again, we failed to recruit efficiently in the summer and only made a handful of signings, leaving us starting the season with a threadbare squad and needing to rely on young players to step up and fill the voids, especially when the injuries began piling up.

"Luckily for us, these talents proved to be the shining lights of our season and will now be regular fixtures in the side for years to come- in particular defenders Reece Staunton and Finn Cousin-Dawson.

"That said, for a club of our size, and with the squad we have on paper, we should never be languishing at the bottom of this division.

"It’s been a disappointing season for us all.

What have been the reasons for the struggle?

"Unfortunately, the blame has to be laid on the shoulders of Stuart McCall.

"Plenty were quick to claim it was the players who didn’t have the fight or desire and were not good enough, but the new management team have clearly dispelled this by managing to take almost as many points from their seven games with the same squad, as Stuart did in 16.

"McCall was guilty of too much tinkering, using systems that didn’t suit our players’ strengths and showing a stubbornness to get drop players like Ben Richards-Everton and Dylan Mottley-Henry who were quite clearly not at the standard required for this level of football.

"That said, I do think there are other reasons, such as not having executed a proper recruitment plan in the summer and the lack of fans at home games (where we usually benefit from the atmosphere league-leading crowds) won’t have helped our cause either.

"We’ve also suffered injuries to key players such as Novak, O’Donnell, Hosannah and Staunton, which is still continuing to hamper us."

Things have certainly picked up with Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars as joint interim managers. What have they changed to get better results?

"Nobody can really believe how quick Trueman & Sellars have managed to turn things around.

"Just remember this is the same side that had lost seven on the bounce and were getting touted as the ‘worst Bradford City team ever.’

"What they’ve done is simply made sure we do the basics well, give the players simple instructions and build from the back.

"They’ve made us defensively resilient and not just going all gung-ho to win every game 4-3 like we would under McCall, which was leaving us completely exposed.

"We conceded three at Oldham in McCall’s last game, yet only two in the six games since. Suddenly we have good balance and a solid structure in place.

"If you listen to what the players are saying, they’re also enjoying working with managers who provide them with detailed opposition analysis.

"It’s giving us an advantage going into every match.

"Off the field, T&S have worked well with our new CEO Ryan Sparks and Head of Recruitment Lee Turnbull, managing to rid the squad of deadwood and replacing players who couldn’t perform at the required level.

"We’ve already released five this window, the majority by mutual consent."

What are the hopes for the rest of the season now?

"Firstly, we need to pull clear of the relegation battle, as it’s still so tight at the bottom.

"The games this week against Southend and Barrow are going to be season defining- lose them and we’re right back in danger.

"Only once we’ve taken points from them can we start to dream about securing a top half finish.

"That would be an incredible achievement given our start to the campaign."

Who would you say are the dangermen?

"Our success this season has hinged on the goals of Lee Novak.

"Since coming in to replace the departing duo of James Vaughan and Eoin Doyle he’s been a revelation and proven that he’s the right man to lead the line.

"He’s got all the experience and nous needed to succeed at this level, and has shown that he is dynamic enough to play as a one or two up top, bringing in other players with his passing and hold up play.

"Sadly, he’s been battling injuries all season and hasn’t been able to sustain a long run in the side.

"With Novak set to be missing again Tuesday, it’s going to fall on the shoulders of new signing Danny Rowe to get the goals we’ve found in such short supply without him.

"Look out for box-to-box midfielders Elliot Watt and Levi Sutton too, under the new management team they have really hit top form and look every bit like one of the league’s most exciting midfield partnerships."

What's the team news for Tuesday's game?

"As mentioned above, top scorer Lee Novak is likely to miss out with an, at this time, undiagnosed knee injury.

"We’re also missing Harry Pritchard our starting left midfielder and goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell.

"Long-term absentees Reece Staunton, Bryce Hosannah and Zeli Ismail continue to sit out.

6.

Given his impact after coming off the bench at the weekend, we may see Jordan Stevens, on loan from Leeds, make his first City start, with Rowe leading the line again having joined last week from Oldham. Watt and Sutton will continue marshalling the midfield with the two O’Connors in fine form at the heart of the defence, currently flanked by the division’s best left back (no bias necessary) Connor Wood and 18-year-old academy graduate RB Finn Cousin-Dawson.