Club News

NATHAN JONES EXPECTS SONNY BRADLEY TO ENJOY FACING PLYMOUTH

Town boss Nathan Jones doesn't believe Sonny Bradley has anything to prove when he faces his old side on Saturday, with the gaffer pleased with the partnership Bradley and Matty Pearson are forming at centre back.

205494_eh.jpg

Both signed in the summer, Bradley penned a three-year deal after leaving the Pilgrims, having spent two years at Home Park, the first of which saw the 27-year-old help Derek Adams' side to promotion from Sky Bet League Two.

The Hull City academy graduate missed the Town's opening two league games, but came in for the 3-1 defeat to Peterborough United in August and has started every single league game since – and has now made 18 appearances in total for the Hatters.

Jones said: "It's always nice when you play against a side you know. He's got nothing to prove, it's not like he has been released from there and he has got a point to prove people wrong. He had a good time there, Plymouth were very good for Sonny Bradley, from when he first joined them to when he exited, he was in a far better place, they did very well for Sonny Bradley.

"So I don't think there will be any bad feeling in any way, shape or form. He did well for them, they did well for him. It's one of those. It's always nice when you play against an old side, I always used to enjoy playing against old sides, against people I knew, but Sonny is purely focused, he's a consummate professional, he's a very diligent human being and I am sure that it won't be anything that upsets him."

Three clean sheets in their last four league games has helped the Hatters maintain their decent form, as well as picking up another one in last Saturday's 2-0 win over Wycombe Wanderers, which saw the Town progress to the second round of the Emirates FA Cup.

"Pearson and Bradley are two very proactive, on the front foot defenders that want to get tight, that want to mark well, they win their headers, they are aggressive and that's why we brought them to the club," the Welshman continued.

"We felt the way we play, we were going to need real competition in that area going up a level. Strikers are better at this level than they are at League Two we think. So we felt we needed to really strengthen in that area and we believe we have. So they are repaying that faith, but there's a long way to go, we're 17 games in, so there's still another 29 to go and hopefully they can keep this form going."

Dan Potts was expected to make some sort of appearance on Tuesday evening after recovering from a groin injury, but the gaffer opted not to name the former West Ham United man in his squad, as he wanted to ensure Potts had enough time to fully recover.

He said: "It was probably a bit too soon, he's had a few days training. He's come back relatively quickly – it's just over three weeks, so he wouldn't have lost too much. We didn't take the game lightly in anyway because we don't do that, but it was probably right that we didn't risk him."

Related Content

  1. 01
  2. 02
  3. 03