Bradford City play host to Colchester United on Saturday afternoon looking for the win that will see them edge closer to automatic promotion to League One.
However, despite the Bantams sitting in second place in the League Two table, in-form Colchester travel to Valley Parade just eight points adrift in seventh position.
Match preview
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Having started the year with 10 wins from 13 league matches, everything looked in place for Bradford to canter to promotion once they had established themselves in the top three.
Instead, Graham Alexander‘s side have suffered successive defeats for the first time since November to bring several of the chasing pack back into the mix.
The losses have come by 1-0 scorelines against teams in Gillingham and Tranmere Rovers who sit in 19th and 22nd position respectively, much to the frustration of their supporters.
As a result, Bradford sit three points adrift of leaders Walsall and three clear of fourth-placed Doncaster Rovers, leaving their automatic promotion hopes on a knife-edge.
A return to Valley Parade will be deemed as favourable, though, with Bradford having won 14 of their 19 matches on home territory in the fourth tier during 2024-25.
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Meanwhile, Colchester make the trip to Yorkshire as the form team in the division, coming through their last 13 games without suffering a defeat.
Most notably, Danny Cowley‘s side have recorded five victories in a row, despite only scoring eight times during that period.
Just one goal has been conceded in five games – a late strike against Port Vale that was immediately followed by a Colchester winner – and they have not conceded twice in a league game since January 4.
Priority will be placed on trying to finish in the playoffs at this stage, yet victory on Saturday could lead to just five points separating them from second spot.
Team News
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If Alexander makes a change to his Bradford XI, Calum Kavanagh could be given an opportunity in the final third, potentially in place of Michael Mellon.
Tyreik Wright may also be restored to the team at wing-back or in midfield, but Alexander is unlikely to overly-tinker with his side.
Andy Cook remains sidelined for the Bantams with a serious knee injury.
Barring any fitness issues, Cowley is unlikely to make any alterations to his Colchester starting lineup as he bids to retain their growing momentum.
Lyle Taylor reached 10 goals for the campaign last time out, while Jack Payne made it 16 strikes or assists, and these two will offer the biggest attacking threat for the visitors.
Bradford City possible starting lineup:
Walker; Byrne, Baldwin, Shepherd; Halliday, Khela, Smallwood, Adaramola; Walker, Lapslie; Kavanagh
Colchester United possible starting lineup:
Macey; Egbo, Kelleher, Flanagan, Hunt; Read, Iandolo; Anderson, Payne, Edwards; Taylor
We say: Bradford City 1-1 Colchester United
After back-to-back defeats, Bradford could have done without a fixture against the form team in the division. However, we feel that may have a positive effect, the home side having the motivation to earn a share of the spoils in a competitive encounter.
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