Mark Gelder
On Tuesday night Oxford United succumbed to a last minute equaliser at Shrewsbury Town, after being 2-0 up at half-time. Perhaps the players were still exhausted from Saturday, but four points from six against two top teams still feels like it should have been all six.

The United team travelled up to the Leeds training ground on Friday, in preparation for Saturday's game against Bradford City. Chris Wilder spent a season here in his playing career, Jake Wright started his career with the Bantams, and Lee Holmes also spent time there on loan.

Last season United were level at half-time, Nil-Nil. The second half was all action, unfortunately in Bradford's favour. Both Mark Creighton and Jake Wright were sent off, and Ryan Clarke saved from the resulting spot kick before the penalty was ordered to be retaken. United lost 5-0, the team's heaviest defeat since Rushden & Diamonds in 2007/08.

United news
James Constable is out for the second of his three game suspension, Tommy Craddock, Alfie Potter, JPP and Tony Capaldi are still injured. Jake Wright made a perhaps quicker than expected recovery to play on Tuesday, and Tyrone Marsh joins the squad for the second consecutive game. Mehdi Kerrouche's loan spell is apparently over, and Dean Morgan was picked up by the coack on the way to Leeds – now in on a month's loan from Chesterfield.

Bantams news
Deane Smalley is unavailable due to the terms of his loan from United. Skipper Michael Flynn is apparently not quite match ready, Ricky Ravenhill is suspended following ten bookings, and James Hanson, Simon Ramsden and David Syers are back in training.

James Hanson is top scorer with nine in the league, most shots with 57, and is also top of the discipline list with 57 fouls. No other player has more than five goals.

Bradford are on a current streak of five home draws, and concede at least one goal in 88% of their home matches.

Other news
Port Vale have, as expected, gone into administration and accordingly they have been deducted ten points by the football league.

In the match between Aldershot and Northampton, the talking point is whether Luke Guttridge will play for Northampton, after being released by Aldershot. Dean Holdsworth says he has a gentleman's agreement that Guttridge will not play, but Aidy Boothroyd had threatened to fine Guttridge two weeks wages if he makes himself unavailable.

In the other play-off challengers, Gillingham face Crewe at home, Crawley are away at Macclesfield, Torquay play Bristol Rovers, Shrewsbury play Burton, Southend play Accrington, and in the top of the table clash, manager of the month PDC faces Cheltenham Town.[@opponent]Bradford City[/@opponent][@connection]Bradford City[/@connection]