Bradford City vs Leyton Orient - prediction, team news, lineups

Both Bradford City and Leyton Orient volition play their ninth League One crippled of the 2026-27 play erstwhile they conscionable astatine Valley Parade connected Saturday afternoon.

The Bantams statesman beingness nether Michael Duff pursuing Graham Alexander's departure for Preston North End, portion the O's question northbound connected the backmost of a 2-0 decision astatine location to Plymouth Argyle that leaves them 3 places extracurricular the apical six.

Match preview

Paul Heckingbottom's dismissal astatine Deepdale prompted a managerial alteration astatine Bradford, with Alexander heading to the Lilywhites and the Yorkshire-based broadside appointing erstwhile Wycombe brag Michael Duff arsenic their caller caput coach, contempt his dismissal by the Chairboys conscionable past month.

Alexander leaves the Bantams 2nd successful League One, level connected points with leaders Plymouth Argyle, having recorded 5 wins, 1 gully and 2 defeats from their opening 8 matches.

The Pilgrims person played 1 crippled much than Duff's caller side, presenting the caller manager with an contiguous accidental to marque an content and nonstop Bradford to the apical of the table.

Mark Trueman had been successful interim complaint of Bradford City for their erstwhile 2 matches, overseeing a 1-1 league gully with Reading earlier watching his broadside thrash Rotherham United 4-0 distant from location successful the EFL Trophy earlier this week.

Saturday's clash volition beryllium Duff's sixth League One crippled of the season, though helium is yet to triumph immoderate of his erstwhile five, and 3 points this play would supply the perfect commencement arsenic Bradford look to equine a superior promotion situation aft narrowly falling abbreviated past season.

As for the visitors, Leyton Orient marque the travel from London to Valley Parade sitting successful mid-table aft a miserable 2025-26 run successful which they were heavy progressive successful a relegation battle.

Still led by Richie Wellens, the O's person made a much accordant commencement this clip around, with 3 wins, 1 gully and 4 defeats earning them 10 points from their opening 8 matches.

Should Leyton Orient unafraid 3 points astatine the play against a Bradford broadside they mislaid to location and distant past season, they could extremity the play successful the apical six portion inactive holding a crippled successful manus connected immoderate of the teams astir them.

A cardinal origin down their improved commencement has been their stronger antiaircraft performances.

The O's ended past run with 1 of the worst antiaircraft records successful the division, but aft 8 matches this clip around, their 11 goals conceded ranks comfortably among the amended records successful the league, portion they besides kept 2 cleanable sheets past month.

Bradford City League One form:

Bradford City signifier (all competitions):

Leyton Orient League One form:

Leyton Orient signifier (all competitions):

Team News

Following the accomplishment of a caller manager and EFL Trophy enactment during the week, Bradford are expected to marque further changes to their starting XI connected Saturday.

Will Swan has started conscionable doubly successful the league this play but could beryllium handed different accidental from the outset aft scoring doubly successful midweek.

Duff volition besides beryllium capable to telephone upon Jon McCracken and Ibou Touray, who person precocious returned from planetary work with Scotland and Gambia respectively.

As for the visitors, Leyton Orient person the luxury of naming an unchanged XI aft emerging from their latest fixture without immoderate further wounded concerns.

Jaze Kabia is expected to proceed starring the enactment arsenic helium looks to physique connected the 4 league goals helium has already scored this play portion skipper Isaac Hayden could instrumentality to the side. 

Oliver Dovin and Demetri Mitchell stay the lone absentees for Wellens' side.

Bradford City imaginable starting lineup:

Dawson; Pennington, Baldwin, Pratt; Jackson, Sarcevic, Connolly, Touray; Phillips, Beesley, Pointon

Leyton Orient imaginable starting lineup:

Baxter; Stevens, Olowu, Forrester, Chinedu; Gilbert; Ackhamrich, C. Wellens, El Mizouni, Springett; Kabia

We say: Bradford City 2-0 Leyton Orient

Bradford City participate Saturday's clash arsenic wide favourites, and we expect Duff's accomplishment to supply different boost arsenic the Bantams marque it 5 matches unbeaten with a intimately fought triumph astatine Valley Parade.

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