Carlisle United boss on Bradford test, Cook absence and familiar face
Mike Williamson insists Bradford City’s loss of Andy Cook will not change their approach against Carlisle United.
The Bantams’ former Blues striker is out for the season with an anterior cruciate knee ligament injury.
But this weekend’s visitors remain in good form and have also bolstered their attack this month with players such as Tommy Leigh – someone Williamson signed at MK Dons last summer.
The absence of the prolific Cook deprives Graham Alexander’s side of their 15-goal top scorer but Blues head coach Williamson says Bradford’s likely approach on Saturday remains clear.
“Cook's a big loss – it would be to anyone. He's their talisman,” he said.
“But it hasn't changed the way they play or their approach.
“They've got a very distinct way in how they want to win games and it's hard to play against. So we've got to make sure that we match that.”
Bradford’s January arrivals so far have included midfielder George Lapslie from Gillingham, Burnley loan frontman Michael Mellon and attacking midfielder Leigh from MK Dons.
The latter is familiar to Williamson, who brought the 24-year-old to Stadium MK from Accrington Stanley last summer.
“He's a big lad. He's got good aerial prowess. He's physical and he just does everything really well,” said Williamson on Leigh.
Bradford, thanks to two Cook goals, defeated Carlisle 2-1 in September's meeting at Valley Parade (Image: Martyn Haworth)
“He's calm in his nature but he works hard. I would have thought he'd play the [number] nine [position], possibly, because they play similar formation to us, or just behind in one of the tens. He’s got quality.”
Bradford, who were in action on Tuesday when they won 3-1 at Aston Villa Under-21s to reach the quarter-finals of the Vertu Trophy, sit eighth in League Two, two points outside the play-off places.
They are unbeaten in their last four league games with three wins and a draw, though their progress in League Two has been mainly built on a strong home record – the Bantams have won eight, drawn three and lost one at Valley Parade, whilst winning two, drawing five and losing five away from home.
At Brunton Park, meanwhile, they are winless in ten visits, last winning at the ground in 1985. This is their first trip to Carlisle since 2023's League Two play-off semi-final second leg when United won in extra-time to reach Wembley.
“They’ve got good pedigree and they’re in a good place, and I think you always know facing Graham's teams how hard they're going to work and how disciplined they're going to be,” said Williamson.
“They're not going to give you anything for free. So you're going to have to earn everything we get and that's where we've been focused.”
Other familiar names in the visiting ranks include forward Calum Kavanagh, son of former United manager Graham, and veteran former Blues captain Paul Huntington, who is unlikely to figure this weekend after recently returning from injury.
The experienced defender is under contract at Valley Parade until the end of January and is expected to be offered new terms until the end of the campaign.
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