Walsall v Bradford – a look at the Bantams

For the past two years the Bantams have finished in League One’s top six only to miss out on a place in the Championship.

And while supporters are dreaming it will be third time lucky, many fear the wait to reach English Football’s second tier will rumble on.

A late goal from the evergreen Steve Morison saw Millwall triumph at Wembley against Stuart McCall’s side back in May. And what followed was a summer exodus reminiscent of what Walsall saw at the end of the 2015/16 campaign.

In Mark Marshall and James Meredith, Bradford arguably had the best right midfielder and left-back in the division last year.

But they left to join Charlton and Millwall respectively.

And they weren’t the only departures with Stephen Darby, Rory McArdle, Billy Clarke and loanee Josh Cullen also moving on.

Those six players had amassed more than 700 appearances between them in Bradford colours.

In their place, McCall snapped up Adam Chicksen, Paul Taylor, Omari Patrick and Jake Reeves, while this week the Bantams snapped up full-back Luke Hendrie on loan from Burnley.

Creative midfielder Reeves, who impressed for AFC Wimbledon against the Saddlers last year, has particularly settled in well at Valley Parade. And with Alex Jones, Dominic Poleon, Shay McCartan, Alex Gilliead and Patrick and Taylor, McCall has a wealth of attacking talent at his disposal.

The boss is also hopeful striker Charlie Wyke will be fit to make his first start of the season after recovering from a hamstring problem.

It is at the back though where Bradford do look light with Matt Kilgallon and Nat Knight-Percival their only recognised centre-backs at the time of writing.

The duo do however receive excellent protection from defensive midfielder Romain Vincelot – however the former Coventry man is suspended for tomorrow's game.

Despite losing so many high-profile players in the close season, the Bantams have made an impressive start to the 2017/18 campaign.

An opening-day won over Blackpool was then followed by victory over Gillingham to make it two from two in League One. But they tasted defeat against Blackburn last time out – ending a 31-game unbeaten run at home.