Oxford v Bradford

I'm back at the Kassam tomorrow to see Oxford take on Bradford and it appears that both sides have had similar starts to the season.
Bradford lost their first league fixture at home to Aldershot and then followed this up with a heroic defeat to Leeds in the League Cup while Oxford lost to Rotherham on the opening day, but took another Championship side - Cardiff - to extra time before losing in the Cup.
It's too early in the season to pass judgement on either side - and I haven't even seen Bradford - but Oxford showed signs against the Welsh side that they have a little steel about them.
If Oxford can keep their two central defenders fit this season, they appear to have a great platform to build on. Michael Duberry has bags of experience and seemed to be one yard ahead of the Cardiff defence in the way he saw the game on Wednesday night. While team mate Jake Wright is decent a pacy centre half who can only learn from his former Chelsea partner.
Both full backs also look good prospects for the club. Damien Batt was unfortunate to get the final touch on Cardiff's first goal, but he was putting in a lot of effort to get back and clear the ball at the time and Liam Davis was all action throughout.
I suspect that Chris Wilder doesn't quite have his starting eleven sorted out in his own mind yet, but this squad is good enough to give any side a run for their money. Over the coming weeks the new boys will settle in and the players will begin to build up an understanding that maybe wasn't quite there in an attacking sense on Wednesday.
Bradford manager Peter Jackson will be tempted to stick with the team that had Leeds pinned back at 2-1 during Tuesday evening's encounter at Elland Road and he may stick with Spurs loanee Oscar Jansson who will be looking to make senior league debut.
Last season Bradford were expected to stroll to promotion, but everything went wrong for them despite their big crowds and the management of former England caretaker boss Peter Taylor. Taylor lost his job back in February and Jackson has steadied the ship. From what I hear the club haven't got a great deal of money (who has?), and so Jackson will have to use his contacts and the experience he gained when steering Huddersfield to a League Two play-off final win.
Jackson was the youngest ever captain of the Bantams during his playing days and skippered the team on the day they lifted the old Division Three Championship trophy in 1985. It was also the day of the terrible Bradford fire during which 56 fans lost their lives. He has also had to battle against throat cancer and, while signs are good, he will not be given the all clear until 2013.