Bradford City are heading for their fifth sell-out in six matches as supporters back their Premiership survival battle.

There are only a few hundred tickets left for Saturday's match against FA Cup semi-finalists Aston Villa and chairman Geoffrey Richmond said: "It is going to be a sell-out."

In the last three months, City have posted 'sold out' notices at matches against Newcastle, Everton, Chelsea and Arsenal with only the Watford game last month not reaching Valley Parade's 18,276 capacity.

The two home matches in March against the top two teams in the Premiership, Leeds United on Sunday, March 12 and Manchester United on Saturday, March 25 are also virtually certain to be sold out.

All tickets in the home sections have been snapped up and the two visiting clubs seem certain to sell their allocation of tickets in the away stand.

News of capacity attendances will give a big lift to manager Paul Jewell and his team since Jewell has always insisted the crowd have a huge part to play in City's battle for survival.

Portuguese striker Jorge Cadete was having more medical tests today before his loan spell from Benfica can be finalised. Cadete has had two days training with the City squad after arriving in Bradford on Sunday night.

City have agreed to take him on loan until the end of the season, providing he passes his medical.

Meanwhile, striker Dean Saunders has pulled out of the Wales squad with a knee injury. Jewell said: "He has not been right and he had a word with the Wales manager Mark Hughes. It was decided he should not travel with the squad to the Middle East to play in the friendly in Qatar tonight."

City are keen Saunders is fit to face his old club Villa.

Reserve striker Isaiah Rankin has started a second loan spell with First Division promotion contenders Birmingham City.

The 21-year-old player, who cost City a then record £1.3 million when he joined them from Arsenal at the start of last season, has scored twice in his first month at St Andrews and his arrival coincided with a revival in Birmingham's form.

His second goal came in the 4-1 success at bottom club Swindon on Saturday which lifted them into fifth place.

City are still waiting to hear whether Sheffield United are interested in goalkeeper Aidan Davison joining City on a permanent basis. Jewell spoke to United manager Neil Warnock and he is considering the situation.

Davison's third month on loan ends after the match at Spurs a week on Saturday and unless the clubs agree a permanent move, he will return to Bramall Lane.

City play Manchester United tonight in the FA Premier Reserve League. The match is at Bury (7pm).

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