Bradford City vs Charlton Athletic. Sky Bet League One.
University of Bradford StadiumAttendance15,709.
Friday 14 September 2018 12:22, UK
Bradford will be without Josh Wright and Kelvin Mellor for boss David Hopkin's first home game in charge against Charlton.
Midfielder Wright and defender Mellor both sustained hamstring injuries in last week's defeat at Blackpool. Defender Adam Chicksen has a possible hairline leg fracture and midfielder Hope Akpan is not ready to return following a shoulder injury.
Winger Sean Scannell (groin) is also still out, so Hopkin could hand starts to youngsters Lewis O'Brien and Jordan Gibson.
Charlton's latest signing Jamie Ward is expected to make his debut for the club. Ward joined on loan from Nottingham Forest on deadline day and has returned from international duty with Northern Ireland unscathed.
Josh Cullen is available again after international duty with Republic of Ireland Under-21s and Tariqe Fosu is back in contention after a one-match ban. Striker Billy Clarke is edging closer to his first appearance of the season following a long-term knee injury.
Bradford City are winless in each of the last four league games with Charlton (D3 L1), last winning in April 2001 in what was a Premier League fixture thanks to goals from Robbie Blake and Benito Carbone (2-0).
Charlton have failed to score in four of the last five visits to Valley Parade (W1 D1 L3) but did win 1-0 in their most recent trip last season.
Bradford have lost five of their last six League One games (W1), conceding two or more goals in each loss, including each of the last three.
Since a run of three consecutive clean sheets in April, Charlton have only managed one shut out in their last eight League One outings.
Lyle Taylor has scored in four of his seven League One appearances this season (4 goals), including each of the last two - he hasn't scored in three successive games since December 2017.
