Bradford City can maintain their third place standing in League Two with a victory on Saturday at Rodney Parade versus Newport County.
Both sides walked away with 1-0 triumphs in the league earlier this week, with Newport getting the better of Carlisle United and Bradford edging Accrington Stanley.
Match preview
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After a difficult beginning in 2025, the club from South Wales have started to pick up steam, currently on a four-match winning run in League Two.
Coming into this month they had gone winless in six consecutive domestic affairs, walking away without a point in five of those instances.
They have only conceded one goal on their current winning run, putting them within three points of a top-10 place.
Nelson Jardim's men have an opportunity to extend their winning run at Rodney Parade to four matches this weekend, with those previous three triumphs being by a single goal.
In January, this team dropped points in their first three league encounters in which they netted the opening goal, but they have won all four of their matches played this month when drawing first blood.
Newport have picked up 39 points after 30 matchdays this season, one fewer than they had at this stage of the 2023-24 League Two campaign.
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Since Boxing Day, nearly everything has gone the way of Bradford City, losing just one of their last 12 competitive fixtures.
Graham Alexander's men have been airtight on the back end all season, conceding the joint second-fewest goals in the league (28) while posting three successive clean sheets in this competition.
If there is an area Alexander would like to improve, it would be their away form, with the Paraders winning just one of their last eight League Two encounters as the visitors.
A place in League One is within reach for the moment, though Wimbledon are right on their heels, just a point back in fourth.
Only five points currently separate themselves in third from missing the playoffs altogether, though they are also only behind Notts County for second on goal difference.
The Bantams are unbeaten in their last four League Two meetings with Newport County, winning the previous three by a combined margin of 11-3.
Team News
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In their victory versus Carlisle, Newport were missing Tom Davies, who had a hamstring strain, while Kai Whitmore was sidelined with a knock.
Kyle Hudlin put home his team-leading sixth of the domestic campaign earlier this week, while Nick Townsend made six stops for his second consecutive clean sheet.
A knee injury will keep Bradford's top goalscorer Andy Cook on the sidelines for the remainder of the campaign, with the former League Two Golden Boot winner scoring 12 times in the competition this season.
Alex Pattison stepped up for them against Accrington Stanley, scoring his sixth of the campaign, and Sam Walker only had to make one save for his third consecutive shutout across all competitions.
Newport County possible starting lineup:
Townsend; Evans, Clarke, Baker; Patten, McLoughlin, Antwi, Glennon; Martin, Baker-Richardson, Kamwa
Bradford City possible starting lineup:
S. Walker; Baldwin, Shepherd, Huntington; Johnson, Pattison, Smallwood, Wright; Sarcevic, J. Walker; Kavanagh
We say: Newport County 1-1 Bradford City
Bradford City know they need to keep winning to stay in a top-three position, but they are going up against a side in equally good form who are striving to close the gap for a playoff spot, and we expect to see a spirited stalemate this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
