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League Two | Gameweek 24
Dec 29, 2022 at 7.45pm UK
The Utilita Energy Stadium
HT

Bradford
1 - 0
Harrogate

Wright (1')
Sutton (42')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Mattock (34'), Thomson (79')

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

:Headline: Preview: Bradford City vs. Harrogate Town - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Thursday's League Two clash between Bradford City and Harrogate Town, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Faltering Bradford City will be looking to get back on track when they take on Harrogate Town at The University of Bradford Stadium on Thursday.

Under the leadership of veteran managerial figure Mark Hughes, The Bantams sit only two points outside of the heavily-contested League Two playoff positions.

Meanwhile, Simon Weaver's improving Sulphurites have moved seven points above the National League trapdoor.


Match preview

After registering back-to-back league victories against Mansfield Town (2-1) on November 8 and Sutton United (2-0) four days later, Bradford City have now lost four successive matches across all competitions.

Hughes's side's downfall began on November 19, suffering a 3-1 defeat to automatic promotion candidates Northampton Town, shortly followed three days later by a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Salford City.

Bradford's recent poor patch of form showed no signs of letting up at the beginning of the month when the West Yorkshire-based outfit suffered a one-sided 3-0 defeat to current league leaders Leyton Orient.

Hoping to witness a change in his side's fortunes, Hughes was left to ponder what could have been on the 106-mile journey back to Bradford, as Paul Huntington's first-half goal proved enough for Carlisle to register a 1-0 victory on Monday.

The only salvation for the confidence within the Bantams' dressing room not dropping dangerously further has been the sight of the arctic-esque December temperatures that have accounted for postponements in Bradford's last two league matches - with Gillingham on December 11 and against Rochdale six days later.

In contrast, Harrogate Town have now been victorious in a hat-trick of matches across the fourth tier of English football, which has seen Weaver's side distance themselves from a return to the National League.

​​The Sulphurites' recent revival began with a convincing 3-0 victory over Mansfield Town on November 19, courtesy of a brace from top-scorer Luke Armstrong.

The win over Nigel Clough's playoff candidates was followed up two weeks later with a convincing 4-1 win over Rochdale at the Crown Oil Arena.

Harrogate fortuitously continued their upturn in fortune on Boxing Day, as Grimsby Town goalkeeper Max Crocombe scored a dramatic own goal in the 91st minute that subsequently secured a dramatic 3-2 home victory for The Sulphurites.

Harrogate Town have enjoyed a significant share of bragging rights in the historical head-to-heads between the two sides, with The Sulphurites victorious in six of the last seven meetings.

Weaver's side's most recent success came on November 5 when a ninth-minute strike from on-loan Huddersfield Town midfielder Matty Daly was enough to see the visitors progress into the second round of the FA Cup.

Bradford City League Two form:


Bradford City form (all competitions):


Harrogate Town League Two form:


Harrogate Town form (all competitions):



Team News

Hoping to avoid a fifth successive defeat across all competitions, Mark Hughes could recall on-loan Crystal Palace midfielder Scott Banks and striker Vadaine Oliver to the Bradford starting XI.

Only Sam Hoskins has found the back of the net more often than Andy Cook in League Two this season, with the 13-goal Bradford striker expected to lead the line once again.

In the wake of three much-needed victories, Harrogate Town could line up with the same 11 that celebrated a last-gasp win over Grimsby Town.

On the back of netting six goals in his last three league matches, Luke Armstrong will once again spearhead the Sulphurites' attack ahead of an attacking trio of George Thomson, Josh Coley and Sam Folarin.

After missing the last four matches, highly sought-after midfielder Alex Pattison could return to Simon Weaver's squad for the game at The University of Bradford Stadium.

Bradford City possible starting lineup:
Lewis; Halliday, Platt, Odusina, Foulds; Smallwood, Gilliead, Walker, Banks, Wright; Cook

Harrogate Town possible starting lineup:
Jameson; Ramsay, Ferguson, Burrell, Headley; Falkingham, Frost, Thomson, Coley, Folarin; Armstrong


We say: Bradford City 3-2 Harrogate Town

Despite a decline in their form at the wrong time, Bradford City can still rely on the attacking exploits of the second-leading goalscorer in League Two this season in the form of Andy Cook.

Considering this, The Bantams should have enough to secure a narrow victory over an improving Harrogate Town side in a tightly-contested affair at The University of Bradford Stadium.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.




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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CStockport CountyStockport462711896484892
4MK Dons462391483681578
5Doncaster RoversDoncaster46218177368571
6Crewe AlexandraCrewe461914136965471
7Crawley TownCrawley46217187367670
8BarrowBarrow461815136256669
9Bradford CityBradford461912156159269
10AFC Wimbledon4617141564511365
11Walsall461811176973-465
12Gillingham461810184657-1164
13Harrogate TownHarrogate461712176069-963
14Notts County46187218986361
15Morecambe461710196781-1458
16Tranmere RoversTranmere46176236770-357
17Accrington StanleyAccrington46169216371-857
18Newport CountyNewport46167236276-1455
19Swindon TownSwindon461412207783-654
20Salford City461312216682-1651
21Grimsby Town461116195774-1749
22Colchester UnitedColchester461112235980-2145
23Sutton UnitedSutton46915225984-2542
RForest Green RoversForest Green46119264478-3442
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