City Boss Colin Todd On Tomorrow

Last updated : 14 September 2006 By Thetashkentterror

Colin Todd
Bantams boss Colin Todd spoke to The Telegraph and Argus about the match against the Blues tomorrow night, ex-Derby County manager Todd talking up City's injury problems :

"It might be the weakest side I've put out this season but you can't legislate for injuries. Whatever side goes out there against Carlisle will be hoping to get back to winning ways. But we're going to be tested to the limit if Dean Windass (bruised calf) and Lee Holmes (twisted ankle) cannot play."

Todd also commented on City's 1-0 defeat against Swansea at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday :

"We didn't have enough care on the ball and couldn't sustain pressure on their back four.It didn't help to lose two attacking players so early but we couldn't create enough opportunities and show that penetration.

We were getting into their box pretty well at times but the final decision was wrong and there wasn't enough goal threat again. And their goal was a sucker punch because I thought we'd weathered everything they could throw at us. It's hard to accept because, like at Brentford the previous week, we did enough in the game to take something from it."


As Todd has mentioned Dean Windass and Derby-loanee Lee Holmes are both big doubts for City, another loanee in hot-shot David Graham from Sheffield Wednesday and youngster Joe Colbeck both looking to step into the breach if Windass and Holmes fail to make it. For United Chris Billy has been passed fit after a groin strain, although he likes likely to be on the bench with Paul Thirwell probably starting, while fellow midfielder Neale McDermott is also available after recovering from an ankle strain.

Blues first-team coach Greg Abbott goes back to Valley Parade sure of a very warm welcome, after giving City nine years of fantastic service before moving to Halifax Town. Abbott making almost 350 appearances for the Bantams during the 1980's and early 1990's before leaving for the Shay in the summer of 1991.

On the other hand though Carlisle skipper Kevin Gray will get an extremely frosty reception, Gray, while playing for bitter Bantams rivals Huddersfield Town, having broken the leg of City striker Gordon Watson in a match at Valley Parade back in early February 1997.

Watson took Gray and his club to court as he sued for negligence over the tackle which left him out of the game for 18 months with his right leg fractured in two places. The judge Mr Justice Hooper ruling that Gray had been negligent over the tackle, with Watson receiving a £900,000 payment to compensate him for loss of earnings.

The referee for tomorrow has a long journey to make, Lee Probert coming all the way up from South Gloucestershire to officiate a game between two northern teams. Probert will be assisted down the lines by Jeremy Simpson from Lancashire and Richard Wigglesworth from Yorkshire, while the fourth official is Neil Yates from Lancashire.