League Two Centre-back of the Season: Sonny Bradley

Brilliant Bradley – plymouthherald.co.uk

While Doncaster Rovers have played the most free-flowing football in League Two, Plymouth Argyle have provided the grit and discipline.

Moments of quality come from Graham Carey, but as we saw at Anfield in the FA Cup, this is a team that defends as a unit and thrives when asked to grab a win through rear-guard action.

For that reason, much of the praise must go to their centre-backs. Nauris Bulvitis’ injuries and Yann Songo’s preference for playing in a holding midfield role means Sonny Bradley, who has started all 38 games, has been the main regular in that area.

Formerly of rivals Portsmouth, Bradley joined Argyle when pre-season had already started but he settled in quickly. His side boast a strong defensive record, winning 20 of the 22 games in which they have scored the first goal, 13 of 14 when leading at half-time. When one considers that Plymouth have scored three or more goals on just five occasions, there have not been too many games in which defenders can afford to relax.

Bradley never has and his vigilance is a big part of why his side are set for a long-awaited return to the third tier.