Sky Bet League 1
Preston North End vs Bradford City
Kick Off: 3.00pm
at Deepdale
Bantams boss Phil Parkinson has recalled three players back into his starting eleven for his side's trip to Deepdale.
After missing out on the FC Halifax Town F.A Cup tie last Sunday due to the terms of his loan agreement, Jordan Pickford returns in goal.
With Stephen Darby and James Meredith keeping their places at right back and left back respectively, Rory McArdle replaces Alan Sheehan in the side to once again partner Andrew Davies in central defence.
Amazingly, despite Darby, McArdle, Davies and Meredith all having been important figures in City's defence for at least the last couple of seasons, this afternoon's match will only be the second time in over thirteen months the quartet have lined together as a back four.
Parkinson's third and final change sees Billy Clarke rewarded for his sprinted second half display against Halifax with a starting berth alongside Jon Stead in attack.
Stead has been passed fit after suffering a tight groin during the Halifax tie, while James Hanson and Gary Liddle have been named on the bench.
| PRESTON NORTH END | BRADFORD CITY |
| 1. Jamie Jones
| 1. Jordan Pickford
|
| 5. Tom Clarke (c)
| 2. Stephen Darby
|
| 7. Chris Humphrey
| 3. James Meredith
|
| 8. Neil Kilkenny
| 5. Andrew Davies
|
| 12. Paul Gallagher
| 10. Billy Clarke
|
| 14. Joe Garner
| 14. Mark Yeates
|
| 16, David Buchanan
| 16. Jon Stead
|
| 22. Jack King
| 17. Jason Kennedy
|
| 23. Paul Huntington
| 20. Filipe Morais
|
| 27. Callum Robinson
| 23. Rory McArdle
|
| 31. Alan Browne
| 25. Andy Halliday
|
| Substitutes: | Substitutes: |
| 21. Thorsten Stuckmann
| 12. Ben Williams (GK)
|
| 3. Scott Laird
| 4. Matthew Dolan
|
| 9. Kevin Davies
| 6. Alan Sheehan
|
| 11. Lee Holmes
| 8. Gary Liddle
|
| 17. Kyel Reid
| 9. James Hanson
|
| 19. John Welsh
| 11. Billy Knott
|
| 33. Jack Ryan
| 18. Christopher Routis
|