Fleetwood to attack the Bradford mean machine

Rosler’s Town have netted in every game this term, while Stuart McCall’s Bantams have yet to concede more than one in any match.

Fleetwood’s head coach has mixed memories of Valley Parade, having scored twice there for Manchester City in 1997 but losing there 4-0 as manager of Brentford in 2013.

Ahead of tonight’s trip across the Pennines, he has told his Town side to be mentally strong and not be distracted by the large crowd – almost 17,500 attended Bradford’s last home clash with Bristol Rovers.

Rosler said: “Bradford are a top team. They are a good footballing side with some similarities to us.

“They have the experience from last year of reaching the play-offs.

“They have had a change of manager (McCall replaced Bolton-bound Phil Parkinson in the summer) and they have responded very well.

“We have proved that we can score in any game and they have proved that they can keep it quiet at the back, so it will be an interesting game.

“It is all about the mental approach. They have a big crowd and we need to make sure that we are not intimidated by that situation.”

The loan pair of striker Chris Long and midfielder Kyle Dempsey are doubtful after being forced out of Saturday’s 4-1 home defeat by MK Dons with what Rosler termed “soft tissue injuries”, though it is understood neither should be out of action long-term.

Town are keen to avoid a third successive defeat and Rosler has been made aware that the team he inherited had a poor record away from home.

He said: “We want to improve the away record. I was not aware until after the Southend game (which Town won 2-0 a month ago) that it was only our second away win of 2016.

“When you are picking up points on the road it takes the pressure off your home games.”