Preview: Harriers v Bradford Park Avenue
April 29, 2017

Preview: Harriers v Bradford Park Avenue

The curtain comes down on the regular National League North season this afternoon with Harriers looking to clinch second spot in the league.

Whatever happens Harriers have booked their place in the play-offs and will travel for the first leg in midweek but victory this afternoon will ensure that if they reach the final it will be played at Aggborough in two weeks' time.

John Eustace has a near full strength squad to choose from Josh Ezewele and Emmanuel Sonupe are the only injury concerns at the moment.  Andre Brown will hope to make a start after making yet another scoring appearance from the bench last weekend at Gainsborough that leaves him just one goal behind leading scorer Arthur Gnahoua with 13.

Bradford haven't had a great season, currently they sit in 16th place on 43 points; they can't get any higher but they could drop two places if results elsewhere go against them.  Their current form sees them without a win in four games, their last victory coming on the road at Alfreton.  In those four winless games they have scored just one goal although they have kept two clean sheets in the same period.

Earlier in the season Harriers won the game at Bradford 3-1 with goals from Andre Brown, Gnahoua and Tyrell Waite.  In the short history of games between the two clubs Harriers have the upper hand with three wins and a draw from five games played.

I expect Harriers to line-up as follows (4-3-3): Hornby; Williams, Francis-Angol, Lowe, Tunnicliffe; Croasdale, McQuilkin, Ngwatala; Nti, Ironside, Gnahoua.
Subs (from): Austin, A. Brown, Carter, Hodgkiss, Knights, A. Palmer, Taylor, Truslove, Waite, Webb.
Missing (injured): Ezewele, Sonupe.
Missing (on-loan): J. Brown, Clarke, Dieseruvwe, Digie, Forsyth, Hancocks, T. Palmer, Sweeney, Thomas.

Today's referee is Simon Mather from Manchester.  This will be his second time in the middle of a Harriers game having done the 4-0 win over Nuneaton earlier this season.

This afternoon's weather is forecast to be cloudy with a temperature of 13°C and a 5% chance of rain.