Bradford City could displace Grimsby Town in the League Two table after Saturday's gameweek 25 clash at the University of Bradford Stadium.
The Bantams' unbeaten post-Christmas form continued on New Year's Day against Barrow, and they aim to exploit an inconsistent Grimsby side who are a place and two points ahead in the standings.
Match preview
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Although Bradford were favourites heading into the January 1 fixture with Barrow, earning a point with four minutes of the 90 remaining after finding themselves 2-1 down means it goes down as a point gained, rather than two lost.
Graham Alexander's men missed a chance to leapfrog this weekend's visitors in their opening match of 2025, but they have another opportunity when both clubs clash in round 25.
Despite failing to keep a clean sheet since mid-December, when they beat Swindon Town 1-0, the 3-0 defeat by Notts County just before Christmas has caused a shift in results, with the Paraders accruing seven points from an available nine entering this weekend.
Throw in the West Yorkshire club's form on home soil, where they have secured 24 points from 11 games — second to table-topping Walsall (29 points from 12) — and the Bantams' tag of favourites does not seem ill-considered.
Since their sole loss as hosts to Doncaster Rovers (2-1) in late October, Bradford have secured 10 points from their following four games, including three victories on the trot against Swindon Town (1-0), and Port Vale and Chesterfield (2-1 in both).
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Success for either club could see the victor rise into the play-off positions: ninth-placed Bradford, on 35 points, are three points shy of Port Vale in fifth and two adrift of AFC Wimbledon and Notts County, while Grimsby, on 37 points, could rise as high as third if they win and results elsewhere go their way.
However, David Artell's troops have struggled to string victories together this term despite sitting eighth in League Two, as evidenced by most victories this term being followed by dropped points.
The Mariners' longest winning sequence, of three matches, was achieved in early October, with subsequent chances of emulating that run twice leading to losses after triumphs over Accrington Stanley and Morecambe in December, and the recent loss to Accrington following wins over Harrogate Town and Port Vale.
Regardless, Artell's side are outside the coveted playoff spots on goal difference and aim to recover from New Year's Day's reverse at relegation-threatened Stanley to displace one of the sides in the top seven.
While the travelling support will back their players to secure a positive result at Bradford, given that the Mariners' six away wins are better than every club's except Walsall's seven, it is not lost on anyone that Grimsby have suffered five away defeats, including back-to-back disappointments at Swindon and Accy Stanley.
Team News
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Callum Johnson returned from a long-term injury to make the Bradford squad on New Year's Day, and the right-back could play in some capacity this weekend.
Andy Cook was forced off after six minutes against Barrow, making the 12-goal man doubtful for the visit of Grimsby; possibly without the striker's four game-clinching goals, a tally bettered by Walsall's Nathan Lowe (seven) and AFC Wimbledon's Matty Stevens (six), the hosts need other players to take responsibility.
The away side came through the opening fixture of 2025 without any apparent injuries, giving Artell a healthy squad for gameweek 25.
Despite creating a promising opportunity in the loss at Accrington, Jason Dadi Svanthorsson's profligate finishing contributed to the shock loss against the struggling side, and the attacker hopes to respond with a strong showing at Bradford.
Notwithstanding, Danny Rose is the visiting club's leading goal threat, and the six-goal man should play from the off this time after coming off the bench on January 1.
Bradford City possible starting lineup:
Walker; Baldwin, Byrne, Shepherd; Halliday, Pattison, Smallwood, Richards; Kavanagh, Pointon; Sanderson
Grimsby Town possible starting lineup:
Wright; Cass, Rodgers, McJannett, Hume; McEachran; Luker, Green, Khouri, Svanthorsson; Rose
We say: Bradford City 2-1 Grimsby Town
While Bradford have a solid record on home soil and Grimsby have one of the league's finest away records, the latter losing five of 12 matches on their travels indicates their fluctuating away showings.
Thus, the Bantams are backed to record a fourth consecutive success in West Yorkshire despite Cook's potential absence, though both teams are expected to find the back of the net.
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