SM
Fulham vs. Brentford: 1 hr 33 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
BC
EFL Trophy | Group Stage
Aug 31, 2021 at 7pm UK
Valley Parade
LC

Bradford
0 - 3
Lincoln

 
FT(HT: 0-2)
Hopper (14'), Adelakun (36'), Scully (49')
Bishop (16'), Bridcutt (68')

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

:Headline: Preview: Bradford City vs. Lincoln City - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Tuesday's EFL Trophy clash between Bradford City and Lincoln City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

The champions of the EFL Trophy in 2017-18, Lincoln City will travel to Valley Parade on Tuesday to face Bradford City in their second match of this competition.

The Imps hung on to a 3-2 win against the Manchester United Academy squad in their opening fixture of this tournament, while Bradford have failed to make it beyond the group stage of the EFL Trophy in their last three campaigns.


Match preview

A solid start to the League Two season hit a sour note this past weekend for Derek Adams and his Bradford City side.

The Bantams were uncharacteristically sloppy against Leyton Orient on Saturday, losing 2-0 and suffering their first defeat of the year.

They let themselves get pushed around throughout the 90 minutes of that game, failing to cope with their opponent's physicality, firing six shots in total with only two on target.

Before that match, Bradford had been clinical in the final third with nine goals in their first four games and sitting on top of the table.

While moving into League One is still a real possibility and the primary focus, they will want to put on a better showing at this tournament than they did a season ago when they came in third in their group.

If they want to advance beyond the group stage for the first time since 2017-18, they would be best served to win their matches within 90 minutes, having lost their opening two fixtures at this competition last season on penalties before losing their final match 3-1 to Oldham Athletic.

A team that looked destined to win this trophy for the second time in club history saw their dreams of glory dashed in the cruellest of fashions as Lincoln City squandered a second-half lead before losing in a penalty shootout in this competition a season ago.

Before that defeat, this team looked unstoppable, particularly in the knockout portion of the tournament, scoring four goals in both their second and third-round matches before surviving a nail-biting penalty shootout in the quarter-finals.

More than six months after that defeat, this group will hope that their journey will last a couple of steps longer this time out, but they are not in very good form at the moment.

Michael Appleton has seen his side struggle through the first five games of their League One campaign, currently sitting in 20th in the table, just a point above the relegation zone.

On Saturday, they were too slow out of the gate for a second successive match, conceding twice in the opening 25 minutes, the second straight game in which they had allowed an early goal.

In their opening match of this tournament, they came out flying to a 3-0 lead before the game was even an hour old, dominating the Red Devils youth side with seven shots on target, and a similar performance on Tuesday could see them through the second phase.

Bradford City form (all competitions):
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • L

Lincoln City EFL Trophy form:
  • W

Lincoln City form (all competitions):
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • L

Team News

Andy Cook is on a roll to start the season, with the 30-year-old Bradford striker leading the team with five goals in all competitions, including a hat-trick against Stevenage, while Lee Angol notched a brace in their 2-1 win over Oldham Athletic.

Goalkeeper Richard O'Donnell has faced 10 shots in his last two matches, conceding four goals, while Paudie O'Connor and Charles Vernam scored their first goals of the season in their victory over Mansfield Town.

Adams chose the same starting 11 from their previous match this past weekend, with Fiacre Kelleher and Caolan Lavery coming on as substitutes on Saturday.

Anthony Scully led the way for the Imps in their opening match of this tournament with a hat-trick, and he scored twice in the knockout rounds of this competition last season, including their only goal in their semi-final defeat to Sunderland.

Remy Longdon is hoping for a bit of redemption this season as he was the only player to miss a spot kick in their semi-final loss against the Black Cats, while Tayo Edun is the only other player besides Scully to score a goal for this team in league play so far in 2021-22.

Sam Long made his first start in goal this season in their opening game of this tournament, replacing Josh Griffiths, while Adam Jackson started against Oxford in defence instead of TJ Eyoma.

Liam Bridcutt started in midfield over Lewis Fiorini, Lasse Sorensen took the spot of Conor McGrandles, with Teddy Bishop and Hakeeb Adelakun starting alongside Scully in attack, replacing Longdon and Dan Nlundulu.

Bradford City possible starting lineup:
O'Donnell; Ridehalgh, Canavan, Kelleher, Foulds; Crankshaw, Songo'o, Vernam; Cooke, Cook, Gilliead

Lincoln City possible starting lineup:
Long; Bramall, Montsma, Eyoma, Poole; Longdon, Bridcutt, Fiorini; Scully, Bishop, Adelakun


We say: Bradford City 1-2 Lincoln City

Bradford have had a much better start to their domestic campaign, but Lincoln have already got the opening day jitters out of the way in this competition and won.

The Imps are relying heavily on Anthony Scully, but he has delivered so far and has shown in the past that he can carry this team on his shoulders.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data




body check tags ::

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


amp_article__461476 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2024-06-05 13:01:02:
html db last update - 2024-06-05 13:01:02 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Championship: Transfer ins and outs - Summer 2018
A lasting legacy, motivated by money? Edu leaves Arsenal and breaks silence on exit
Preview: Real Madrid vs. AC Milan - prediction, team news, lineups
FA Cup second round draw: Bruce handed Birmingham reunion with Blackpool
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Port Vale149322315830
2Walsall1382326141226
3Notts County1475222121026
4Doncaster RoversDoncaster148242016426
5Crewe AlexandraCrewe137331612424
6Chesterfield1457228151322
7Bradford CityBradford146442015522
8MK Dons146352116521
9BarrowBarrow146351511421
10Grimsby Town147071825-721
11Gillingham146261512320
12Salford City145541416-220
13AFC Wimbledon11614189919
14Newport CountyNewport146171824-619
15Fleetwood TownFleetwood134631915418
16Cheltenham TownCheltenham145271821-317
17Harrogate TownHarrogate144371119-815
18Bromley133551517-214
19Tranmere RoversTranmere13355816-814
20Accrington StanleyAccrington133461522-713
21Colchester UnitedColchester132651620-412
22Swindon TownSwindon142661520-512
23Carlisle UnitedCarlisle1422101228-168
24Morecambe141491225-137
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Hoping for the best: Chelsea star Palmer 'to undergo scan' on knee injury

1

HF

Five Man City players missing from training ahead of Sporting clash

2

FM

Preview: Besiktas vs. Malmo - prediction, team news, lineups

NEW

3

PB

Was the injury serious? City reveal Sporting squad after Haaland scare

NEW

4

WT

Mainoo, Maguire return dates: Man United injury, suspension news vs. PAOK

5

MM

Premier League move? Real Madrid 'questioning Vinicius Jr commitment level'

6

PL

Preview: Inter Milan vs. Arsenal - prediction, team news, lineups

7

PI

Walking a tightrope: Which two Liverpool stars could miss Real Madrid clash?

8

WA

Pictured: Liverpool star returns to training after painful injury

9

PL

Chelsea suffer Osimhen transfer blow as £42m January twist 'revealed'

10

CS


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .