The Voice - Match preview #25: Bradford City vs Cardiff City Saturday 17th January 2026 12:30pm

EFL League One Fixture #25
Saturday 17th January 2026 12:30
Bradford City (3rd) vs Cardiff City (1st)
University of Bradford Stadium

Record:
Games Won: 8
Games Drawn: 2
Games Lost: 5

Last 5:
30 Oct 1994: Bradford City 2 – 3 Cardiff City
28 Mar 1995: Cardiff City 2 – 4 Bradford City
16 Aug 2003: Cardiff City 0 – 2 Bradford City
17 Jan 2004: Bradford City 0 – 1 Cardiff City
20 Sep 2025: Cardiff City 1 – 3 Bradford City

Cardiff City:
Cardiff City’s relentless march back to the Championship has continued unabated of late, with just 1 defeat in their last 11 league games. With a further 8 wins and 2 draws since mid-November, and with 21 goals scored and 11 conceded during that span, Cardiff City have not only taken top spot, they’ve also managed to open up a 4 point gap on second place Lincoln City. While Bradford City, in third, have a game in hand and could theoretically reduce their own deficit on the Bluebirds to 3 points, Cardiff City remain the team to beat as it stands.

That said, there have been signs of a relative slow-down (keyword: relative) of late, particularly in front of goal. Where once Cardiff were scoring in 3’s and 4’s throughout late November and early December (Northampton (A) W 3-1, Mansfield (H) W 3-0, Huddersfield (H) W 3-2, Doncaster Rovers (H) W 4-3), Brian Barry-Murphy’s side have now only scored more than 1 on just one occasion in their last 6 games – and in two of those games, their profligacy in front of goal has cost them points. While a couple of clean sheets at home have ensured maximum point hauls in 1-0 wins over Exeter City and Wigan Athletic, games away from South Wales have been a little less kind. Both Wycombe Wanderers and Leyton Orient were able to hold the league leaders to 1-1 draws on their respective patches, while Lincoln City beat them 2-1 back on December 20. That means no wins in three on the road in the league, a statistic that gives a glimmer of hope to those trying to chase them down.

The best ‘Home’ side in the division bar none, the fact that Cardiff City are ‘only’ the 2nd best ‘Away’ side in League One shows just how consistent Barry-Murphy’s side have been this season – but they will still seek to arrest that winless run on their travels in order to maintain their lofty league position. In their way now are Bradford City, a side who have also made their own ground a veritable fortress. Equally, as one of only two teams to have taken points off Cardiff City in Cardiff this season, Graham Alexander’s men will hope they have the right balance and right tactics to do the double over their high-flying opponents. City will be the first to attempt that feat – and next time Cardiff City go on their travels, Burton Albion, the only other side to win in Cardiff in the league, will try their hand. Hopefully by then, City have shown them how to do it!

Danish striker Yousef Salech has proven an inspired signing, the 6’5 centre forward having helped himself to 12 league goals, putting him in joint top position alongside the much-admired Lorent Tolaj and Dom Ballard of Plymouth Argyle and Leyton Orient respectively. And wouldn’t you just believe it, when Leyton Orient held Cardiff City to a 1-1 draw last time out, the scorers were indeed Ballard and Salech!

Despite the Dane’s obvious quality, though, he isn’t the only danger in and around the opposition penalty area. Callum Robinson (5), Chris Willock (4), Isaak Davies (3), Cian Ashford (3) and Rubin Colwill (3) have all netted on more than 2 league goals this season, contributing to the second best attack in the division behind only Huddersfield Town. Cardiff City also rank as the second best team in terms of xG, and the single most dominant side in terms of possession with a whopping 62.68 % of the ball on average.

Perhaps the latter statistic will play in to City’s hands somewhat, as it seemed to at the Cardiff City Stadium, but the Bantams will have to be extremely cautious not to allow Cardiff City to create chance after chance this Saturday afternoon. The Welsh outfit have the players to take those opportunities, and can quickly get on top if things are going their way.

Leyton Orient 1 – 1 Cardiff City


Cardiff City 1 – 0 Wigan Athletic


Bradford City:
There was a feeling of disappointment as City’s last scheduled home game against strugglers Rotherham United was called off despite optimistic statements to the contrary. The good news is that both Matthew Pennington and Bobby Pointon are now believed to be back in contention, and there has been a great deal of movement in the January transfer window besides. Talismanic striker Andy Cook has departed, along with favourites Alex Pattison and Brad Halliday in a shake up of the make up of the squad. In come Newcastle United loanees Joe White and Harrison Ashby, while rumours surrounding the imminent arrival of a centre forward have yet to come to fruition.

That means that on Saturday afternoon, City could line up with 3 full debutants if Graham Alexander chooses to roll the dice, with fellow loanee Louie Sibley also seeking a first start for the club. Ashby could slot in at right wing back with Josh Neufville apparently out of favour, while White and Sibley eye opportunities in the middle of the park. The likes of Pointon, Sarcevic, Power and Metcalfe may still be favoured, but one would expect at least a cameo from the new boys in arguably the biggest game of the season.

Unlike last time the Bantams last played Cardiff City, Graham Alexander’s men will not have the opportunity to go top, however – this is all about closing the gap and ensuring the Bluebirds don’t begin to put distance between themselves and the rest of the pack. With a stinging 3-0 defeat at Mansfield Town still fresh in the memory, it’s to City’s credit that optimism was largely restored with a 2-1 win at Bloomfield Road, putting the Bantams back in the mix in both the automatic promotion race and the ‘Away’ league table, where they now sit a not-too-shabby 5th.

It's at home, though, where City do their best work, and it’s here they’ll look to complete a league double over arguably their fiercest promotion rival. Bradford City must take advantage of Cardiff’s stuttering away form, and hope that their new signings emerge as ‘secret weapons’ regardless of when and where they are introduced. With the possibility of a new number 9 entering the building before the weekend (though time is running out on that front), Will Swan’s starting berth will be under pressure like never before this season, hopefully spurring him on to an even greater contribution.

One thing we can expect for sure is a big game atmosphere, two ‘City’ sides that are ready and raring to go, and a typical Graham Alexander-style press against a very possession-dominant side. This is not going to be one to miss!

Blackpool 1 – 2 Bradford City


Mansfield Town 3 – 0 Bradford City


Prediction:
A fixture that has only been played 15 times in the 104 years since the first game between the two sides, a Bantams vs the Bluebirds tie has become something of a collector’s item over the years! In the last 30-something years, the clubs have only met 7 times, and on only one of those occasions did the home side win… the away side having triumphed 5 times, with 1 draw to round out results!

Quite why the away side usually wins this fixture is anyone’s guess, but when Bradford City came away from the Cardiff City Stadium with a 3-1 win, few Bantams fans will have been complaining! Arguably the Bantams’ finest result of the season, Graham Alexander’s men are now tasked with completing a league double over a side so few others seem able to beat. But Cardiff, for their part, will look to extend the dominant run of away sides in this fixture, and end their current fallow run of no wins in 3 on the road.

The statistics are contradictory, and the game itself feels unpredictable. If either side can get a real foothold in the game, they could start to build insurmountable momentum – but I’m expecting a hard fought, high tempo game with plenty of full-blooded challenges and goal mouth action… at least, here’s hoping!

This is a great opportunity for two of the best sides in the division, each with contrasting styles, to show what League One football is all about. It’s a great chance to prove that ‘styles make contests’, and for both teams to show how truly ruthless they can be. Plenty of eyes will be on Salech against a reinforced Bradford City backline including both Curtis Tilt and potentially Matthew Pennington, but equally Bobby Pointon and the City newcomers will want to stamp their own authority on the fixture.

This is one where it’s all on the line, everything is to play for, and every challenge needs to count. With Cardiff City’s recent cool down in front of goal, an easy pick would be a 1-1 draw – but I’m going to go one better and pick a 2-2 draw in a scintillating game that will see both sides come out with a renewed respect and appreciation of the other. I wouldn’t be surprised, however, if the man in the middle ultimately swung the game one way or the other… but for now, let’s got for a four-goal draw in a game that should not feel like a disappointment.

Final Score:
Bradford City 2 – 2 Cardiff City