The Voice - Match preview #15: Bradford City vs Burton Albion Saturday 8th November 2025 3:00pm

EFL League One Fixture #15
Saturday 8th November 2025 15:00
Bradford City (2nd) vs Burton Albion (19th)
University of Bradford Stadium

Record:
Games Won: 6
Games Drawn: 6
Games Lost: 5

Last 5:
06 Feb 2016: Burton Albion 3 – 1 Bradford City
08 Mar 2016: Bradford City 2 – 0 Burton Albion
21 Aug 2018: Bradford City 1 – 0 Burton Albion
26 Jan 2019: Burton Albion 1 – 1 Bradford City
18 Oct 2022: Burton Albion 4 – 0 Bradford City [EFL Trophy]

Burton Albion:
Burton Albion threw away a 2-0 lead at Rotherham United on Tuesday night, and will have been disappointed to come away from the AESSEAL New York Stadium with just a point. An unfortunate own goal from Toby Sibbick halved the deficit, before a Hamish Douglas leveller in the 90th minute broke Burton hearts – but Burton Albion were good value for their initial two-goal lead, and showed off some of their better attacking outlets throughout.

Midfielder Charlie Webster was particularly prominent on set pieces, the 21 year old former Chelsea academy product put in some teasing balls from both corners and free kicks, and he will be a threat to the Bradford City backline if they concede as many fouls as they did, say, against Stevenage. A technically gifted player, Webster has scored 5 goals across all competitions this season, and scored a sublime double in Burton Albion’s opener against Mansfield Town (2-1). Yet it’s Tyrese Shade that seems to have been catching headlines most recently, the former Swindon Town man having netted 4 goals in his last 5 appearances for the Brewers. His finish against Rotherham United was one of real quality, sweeping home from the edge of the penalty area after a bad error in the Rotherham backline. Shade will be hoping to build on that form yet further at Valley Parade this weekend.

Despite the above plaudits, it’s clear Burton Albion haven’t been scoring enough goals. Averaging less than a goal a game (13 in 14), Burton Albion’s issues are outlined by the fact that Webster (3) and Jake Beesley (3) are the club’s joint top scorers in league action. All of Shade and Fabio Tavares are the only other players to have netted more than once, an unimpressive statistic, but there are signs Burton Albion are starting to turn the corner.

Having won 3 of their last 5 fixtures, albeit including a 6-0 thrashing of St Albans in the FA Cup, Gary Bowyer’s men are just starting to threaten a spell of good form. An impressive 3-0 home win over Bolton Wanderers on 11th October has been scaffolded by a run of 5 away days without defeat. The 2-2 draw at Rotherham United might be seen as a disappointment given the circumstances, but take nothing away from the fact Burton Albion have recently beaten both AFC Wimbledon and Cardiff City away from home by the same scoreline: 1-0. Huddersfield Town and Doncaster Rovers were both held to draws on their own soil, and you’d have to go back to 23rd August to see the Brewers last lose on their travels – when 10-man Stockport County turned them over 2-1.

So while things seem to be headed the right way generally, there are still hints of disappointment. A 1-0 home defeat to bottom side Peterborough United at home was not a good look, while Plymouth Argyle – another side in the relegation zone – hammered them 4-0 at the Pirelli Stadium. Burton Albion, then, might have discovered they played better against the top sides – of which Bradford City have definitely been so far this season, even on the back of a 4-game winless run.

This one, for any Bradford City fan, has ‘banana skin’ written all over it. Burton’s recent away record is impressive if not exemplary, with signs some of their key players are finding form. For a Burton Albion fan, it’s simply a case of ‘more of the same please’ after those away day wins at Wimbledon and Cardiff.

Rotherham United 2 – 2 Burton Albion


AFC Wimbledon 0 – 1 Burton Albion


Bradford City:
Bradford City are joint top of the ‘Home’ league table, albeit now behind Bolton Wanderers on goal difference after a 0-0 draw against Lincoln City at Valley Parade, and there’s a chance Stevenage nudge ahead of them too, what with the Boro having played one fewer game on home soil than the Bantams. One side that sit 2 points behind them in 4th place in the ‘Home’ league table, though, is Cardiff City – the Bluebirds having amassed 5 wins and just 2 defeats at the Cardiff City Stadium, and poignantly the only 2 teams to beat them there this season are… Bradford City and Burton Albion.

Bradford City’s 3-1 win in Wales’ capital certainly came with a lot more style points, but Burton Albion were the first team to shut down the free-scoring Bluebirds this season, at least in terms of league action. That suggests that Burton’s better away day successes were no fluke, and could be repeatable – but as the late collapse in Rotherham showed, while they’re much improved of late, Bowyer’s Burton Albion are hardly flawless.

Bradford City, likewise, have been far from flawless lately, a string of injuries really beginning to hamper performances. An extremely disappointing 1-0 defeat at League Two strugglers Cheltenham Town in the FA Cup may have been a case of ‘wrong game, wrong time’ for the Bantams as multiple players try to force their way back into first team contention, but the cup exit still leaves a very bitter taste in the mouth. Having come on the back of 3 straight draws in the league, there’s a sense of that City are starting to stutter slightly.

The Bantams have, uncharacteristically, now gone 2 full games without scoring, while their only goal at Stevenage came as early as the 3rd minute courtesy of a deflected Neill Byrne strike. Will Swan has worked hard but not achieved a great deal of late, while Andy Cook’s return is still a work in progress, and Humphrys has been hampered by injury on the back of a couple of good performances against Everton U21’s and Barnsley. Bobby Pointon hasn’t been seen since the 1-0 win over Blackpool, the last time the Bantams won in the league.

City’s backline, too, has been stitched back together more times than one cares to count, and while Byrne, McIntyre and Pennington looked like a decent back 3 on paper against Cheltenham Town, they couldn’t prevent City slipping behind on the 2nd minute courtesy of a controversial header from Isaac Hutchinson, a blow from which the Bantams never recovered. Cook, Tyreik Wright and George Lapslie were all unable to find the net, as were Swan, Humphrys and Pattison coming off the bench.

On the plus side, a full 90 minutes under Cook’s belt is a major boost, and the sight of both Pattison, Humphrys and even Lewis Richards was most welcome, even if few if any of those players are up to speed just yet.

That might be the issue going into this Burton Albion game. While Graham Alexander may have more options available to him, some of them are either looking a bit rusty or have been in-and-out of the team too much to build any real momentum. The chopping and changing has largely been forced upon Alexander, but there’s no question it’s taking its toll. What can one expect, though, when there are as many as 3, 4 or 5 changes to the lineup every game?

Bradford City 0 – 0 Lincoln City


Stevenage 1 – 1 Bradford City


Prediction:
While Bradford City have performed admirably so far this season, the signs were there that the ship was beginning to creak under a deluge of key absences. City fans might hope that culminated in the disappointing 1-0 defeat at Cheltenham Town in the FA Cup, but the struggle may not be over yet. Even with players come back, it can take individuals 2 or 3 games to re-find their form, and even longer for those long-term absentees like Andy Cook.

Given Burton Albion are, by contrast, finding a bit of form (particularly away from home) under Gary Bowyer, they must be taken seriously. City fans feeling a sense of frustration after the recent winless run may wish for this to be an ‘easier’ game, but that seems like something of a naïve notion given how Burton have shut down some of the better teams in the division lately.

Still, Bradford City aren’t coasting on the back of good recent results, they will be fighting tooth and nail to regain some form – which isn’t a bad position to be in when you’re already 2nd in the League One table! Graham Alexander has been a master of psychology since he arrived at the club, and he will surely have his players motivated for this one, it’s just a case of whether City will continue to misfire against what promises to be a more stubborn defence than perhaps the season’s statistics suggest.

If Burton Albion can add Bradford City to their list of away day conquests, they will have one of the better away day resumés in the division – and it’s not just away day successes against the better performing sides, either, with the Brewers having recently dismantled Bolton Wanderers at home to the tune of 3-0.

Shackling Tyrese Shade will be critical. Not offering up too many opportunities from set pieces for Charlie Webster will be equally important. But sticking the ball in the net themselves has to be the absolute priority here. I think this will be tough, it will be close, and ultimately, I think the two will not be separated on Saturday afternoon.

Final Score:
Bradford City 1 – 1 Burton Albion