ALL you need to know ahead of Bradford (Park Avenue)'s Vanarama National League North match with Boston United.

Kick-off: Monday, January 11 (7:45pm)

Venue: Horsfall Stadium

Odds: Bradford 4/1, Boston 11/20, Draw 11/4

Current positions: 16th v 6th

Form guide: DLLWL v WDWWD

Consecutive postponements at York City and against Chester meant Bradford had longer to ponder over the heavy loss to Curzon Ashton.

After two defeats in four games, the visitors have strung together a decent run taking 10 points from 12 lately.

AFC Fylde were brushed aside on penalties in the FA Trophy and United's league-best goals against tally (9) should be feared, despite playing the joint-second least amount of matches (12).

Team news

With Matty Downing beginning his suspension and Harry Boyes back at his parent club, the returning Jordan Windass may have to deputise at unfamiliar left back.

Ryan Toulson returned from his ban to the start at Curzon but fellow red card offender Jake Hibbs still has another game to go.

It will be too soon for Isaac Marriot, and captain Luca Havern should be out for another couple of weeks due to his hamstring injury.

Oli Johnson came on in Greater Manchester after not featuring since that beautiful brace down at Hereford. York loanee Alex Wollerton should join him on the bench.

Possible line-ups

Avenue

GK Dan Atkinson, RB Ryan Toulson, CB Mark Ross, CB Luke Lyons, LB Jordan Windass, CM Adam Nowakowski, CM Regan Booty, CM Nicky Clee (C), RW Will Longbottom, ST Lewis Knight, LW Brad Dockerty.

Subs: Jacob Fawcett, Alex Wollerton, Omar Sanyang, Tabish Hussain, Oli Johnson.

Boston

GK Ross Fitzsimons, RB Matt Tootle, CB Luke Shiels, CB Pierce Bird, LB Scott Duxbury, RM Terry Hawkridge, CM Connor Dimaio, CM Tom Platt, LM Joe Leesley, ST Jordan Burrow, ST Fraser Preston.

Subs: Tyrell Warren, Scott Garner, Jay Rollins, Paul Green, Jordan Thewlis.

Battle to watch: Booty v Shiels

Since his arrival in December, the midfielder has shown exactly why he played so much for Notts County in the National League last term.

Booty's ability on the ball is for all to see and his calmness was typified in the wonderful strike he bagged against York.

As for the Pilgrims, their experienced centre half has helped them keep such a solid defensive record.

Shiels is part of a back four which have captured eight clean sheets in all competitions this season.

Head to head

The pair of teams share the record in the league (eight wins each) but it is Craig Elliott's men who have been most successful in recent times, unbeaten in their last three.

Two 2-1 wins over Bradford in 2019/20 showed their mentality to grind out wins was there, eventually leading to a playoff finish.

Last January, it was Dominic Knowles' first-minute strike which the hosts failed to recover from. Simon Ainge and Nicky Clee also netted.

To see how Bradford get on against Boston United follow our live blog from 7pm.