Third league double?

ACCRINGTON STANLEY take on the tough challenge from Yorkshire rivals Bradford City, as Stuart McCall brings his side over the pennines for a New Years Day Clash of the roses.

The last time the sides met, Stanley were 3-0 winners at Valley Parade as John Coleman’s met turned on the style. Roscoe D’Sane scored after two minutes earlier in the season, before bagging again after half an hour. Andy Proctor rounded off the scoring on the day.

The corresponding fixture isn’t only remembered for the 3-0 Stanley scoreline, because it is also the game that saw Scottish ‘keeper Kenny Arthur brake his leg, an injury that has still kept the big Scot on the sidelines.

Ian Craney was also stretchered from the field in the same game although Craney’s injury wasn’t as bad as first expected.

If Stanley win the game this afternoon, it will be the third league double of the season, after completing doubles over Grimsby Town and Mansfield over the festive period.

The line-ups from last time:

Stanley: Arthur, Williams, Webb, Roberts, Cavanagh, Proctor, Carden, Richardson, Mullin, D’Sane, Craney.

Bradford: Ricketts, Wetherall, Harban, Bower, Heckingbottom, Daley, Phelan, Johnson, Rhodes, Thorne, Ndumbu-Nsungu.

Accrington Stanley Team News:

Accrington will be without skipper Peter Cavanagh who is recovering from an achilles operation, whilst John Coleman could rest danger man Paul Mullin, who has been suffering from burn out during the festive period.

New loan signing Andy Todd is expected to step straight in to the starting line-up this afternoon, after resturning to Stanley on an emergancy loan deal that will last untilt the beginning of February. Todd of course left Stanley at the beginning of the season, but has found it hard to break in to the Rotherham side.

Ian Craney has completed his loan deal with Stanleyand returns to Swansea, whilst rumours in Swansea grow that Craney will be heading to Stanley in a deal worth £20,000.

Player to watch: Andy Todd

The explosive winger is back and will be looking to prove a point during his one month loan spell with Stanley.

If he can redescover the form that earnt him a move to Rotherham then it wouldn’t do any harm to the midfielder’s chances of breaking in to the Millers’ team.

Watch out Bradford.

Bradford City Team News:

City gaffer Stuart McCall will hand debuts to Chilean striker Will Topp and on-loan Hartlepool midfielder Lee Bullock, whilst Barry Conlon is left hoping for a recall to the Bantams side.

Tom Penford will miss the game for the visitors through injury.

Player to watch: Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu

His name may be a hard one to say, but Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu will be Bradford’s biggest threat in front of goal at The Fraser Eagle Stadium this afternoon.

Go on have a go at prenouncing his name, Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu.

Match Prediction:

Accrington Stanley 2-0 Bradford City.