Preview: Bradford City vs. Grimsby Town - prediction, team news, lineups

Bradford City could displace Grimsby Town successful the League Two table aft Saturday's gameweek 25 clash astatine the University of Bradford Stadium.

The Bantams' unbeaten post-Christmas signifier continued connected New Year's Day against Barrow, and they purpose to exploit an inconsistent Grimsby broadside who are a spot and 2 points up successful the standings.

Match preview

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Although Bradford were favourites heading into the January 1 fixture with Barrow, earning a constituent with 4 minutes of the 90 remaining aft uncovering themselves 2-1 down means it goes down arsenic a constituent gained, alternatively than 2 lost.

Graham Alexander's men missed a accidental to leapfrog this weekend's visitors successful their opening lucifer of 2025, but person different accidental erstwhile some clubs clash successful circular 25.

Despite failing to support a cleanable expanse since mid-December, erstwhile they bushed Swindon Town 1-0, the 3-0 decision by Notts County conscionable earlier Christmas has caused a displacement successful results, with the Paraders accruing 7 points from an disposable 9 entering this weekend.

Throw successful the West Yorkshire club's signifier connected location soil, wherever they person secured 24 points from 11 games — 2nd to table-topping Walsall (29 points from 12) — and the Bantams' tag of favourites does not look ill-considered.

Since their sole nonaccomplishment arsenic hosts to Doncaster Rovers (2-1) successful precocious October, Bradford person secured 10 points from their pursuing 4 games, including 3 victories connected the trot against Swindon Town (1-0), and Port Vale and Chesterfield (2-1 successful both).

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Success for either nine could spot the victor emergence into the play-off positions: ninth-placed Bradford, connected 35 points, are 3 points shy of Port Vale successful 5th and 2 adrift of AFC Wimbledon and Notts County, portion Grimsby, connected 37 points, could emergence arsenic precocious arsenic 3rd if they triumph and results elsewhere spell their way.

However, David Artell's troops person struggled to drawstring victories unneurotic this word contempt sitting eighth successful League Two, arsenic evidenced by astir victories this word being followed by dropped points.

The Mariners' longest winning sequence, of 3 matches, was achieved successful aboriginal October, with consequent chances of emulating that tally doubly starring to losses aft triumphs implicit Accrington Stanley and Morecambe successful December, and the caller nonaccomplishment to Accrington pursuing wins implicit Harrogate Town and Port Vale.

Regardless, Artell's broadside are extracurricular the coveted play-off spots connected extremity quality and purpose to retrieve from New Year's Day's reverse astatine relegation-threatened Stanley to displace 1 of the sides successful the apical seven.

While the travelling enactment volition backmost their players to unafraid a affirmative effect astatine Bradford, fixed that the Mariners' six distant wins are amended than each club's but Walsall's seven, it is not mislaid connected anyone that Grimsby person suffered 5 distant defeats, including back-to-back disappointments astatine Swindon and Accy Stanley.

Bradford City League Two form:

Bradford City signifier (all competitions):

Grimsby Town League Two form:

Team News

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Callum Johnson returned from a semipermanent wounded to marque the Bradford squad connected New Year's Day, and the right-back could play successful immoderate capableness this weekend.

Andy Cook was forced disconnected aft six minutes against Barrow, making the 12-goal antheral doubtful for the sojourn of Grimsby; perchance without the striker's 4 game-clinching goals, a tally bettered by Walsall's Nathan Lowe (seven) and AFC Wimbledon's Matty Stevens (six), the hosts request different players to instrumentality responsibility.

The distant broadside came done the opening fixture of 2025 without immoderate evident injuries, giving Artell a steadfast squad for gameweek 25.

Despite creating a promising accidental successful the nonaccomplishment astatine Accrington, Jason Dadi Svanthorsson's profligate finishing contributed to the daze nonaccomplishment against the struggling side, and the attacker hopes to respond with a beardown showing astatine Bradford.

Notwithstanding, Danny Rose is the visiting club's starring extremity threat, and the six-goal antheral should play from the disconnected this clip aft coming disconnected the seat connected January 1.

Bradford City imaginable starting lineup:
Walker; Baldwin, Byrne, Shepherd; Halliday, Pattison, Smallwood, Richards; Kavanagh, Pointon; Sanderson

We say: Bradford City 2-1 Grimsby Town

While Bradford person a coagulated grounds connected location ungraded and Grimsby person 1 of the league's finest distant records, the second losing 5 of 12 matches connected their travels indicates their fluctuating distant showings.

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