The Voice - Match preview #7: Luton Town vs Bradford City Saturday 19th September 2026 3:00pm

If anything they are the perfect away performances, when opposition are using descriptions such as well organised and hard to beat you know the foundations are.solid. when I've watched a few teams this season. I don't what they are or trying to achieve. We know what our DNA is under Alexander, no frills high energy work your bollocks off.

 

I'd expect the team for Tuesday to be almost identical to the one that played against Orient, the only changes being Dawson in for McCracken and maybe Jackson down to the bench but if we do that I'm not sure who we play at wing back with Touray on international duty and Neufville not going to be risked even if he is able to play.

Tuesday is a game where we really should be winning comfortably and scoring 3 or 4 as Newcastle's u21s are struggling in PL2 as well as the National League Trophy. In all competitions they've conceded 17 in 6 and they will be without some of their better players due to being called up for international duty.

They beat York last week but it looks like York weren't playing a strong side and even made a sub after 1 minute just to get around the selection rules which are pretty hard to fail these days.

 

Let's also not forget that we are doing all this without two key players or two players that will pull something special out of the bag ..........Humphries and Wright both when up to full speed will make us even better going forward and also getting our passing up to play will help ..............top of the league good chance of a quarter final in a major cup comp .............beats the hell out of slumming it in the Khazi league and being nothing but Harrogate Towns little bitch ............good time to be a City fan so enjoy it while we can

 

Play Beesley give the kid some confidence

 

They beat York last week but it looks like York weren't playing a strong side and even made a sub after 1 minute just to get around the selection rules which are pretty hard to fail these days.[/QUOTE]

Yes saw that, remember Sheffield Wednesday doing the same thing at Valley Parade a few year ago in the same competition.

 

Yeah I was discussing same with my lad earlier, could be the perfect game for him to get that elusive 1st goal and with no game next Saturday still plenty of rest time ahead

 

O'Keefe and Jackson?

 

I was saying if Jackson dropped to the bench I'm not sure who we play at the wing backs. With Jackson looking like he's got a starting place in the league I can see him starting on the bench on Tuesday especially if we are going to need him at wing back against Reading.

Thinking about it since posting I can see Lapslie starting there as that's the only position I can see him in the team with Humphrys, Swan and Phillips in the front 3 with Morgan and Cartwright in the middle.

 

WOAP report:

https://widthofapost.com/2026/09/19/1-0-to-the-bradford-boys/

 

Just asking did we actually ever sit top of the league 1 last season? I know we went close a few times.

I know a few have said we are a weaker side this season but is that really the case? Our bench looks much stronger and we have Wright and Humps to come back in after a while.

Certainly have moved up a notch with the goalkeeper IMHO

 

Yes


Their periods leading the division occurred entirely during the first half of the campaign before eventual champions Lincoln City and runners-up Cardiff City took firm control: [1, 2]

1. The August Opening (3 Days): After winning their opening match 2–1 against Wycombe Wanderers on 2 August 2025, they sat jointly or outright at the top of the embryonic table until the next matchday round concluded. [1]
   
   
2. The Late-August Surge (7 Days): Following back-to-back 2–1 away and home wins over Luton Town and Stockport County, Bradford City climbed back to the top on 19 August 2025. They held the position for a week until a 1–1 draw with Peterborough United on 23 August slipped them down. [1, 2]
3. The September/October Peak (26 Days): Their longest consecutive run at the top came after a convincing 3–1 away win at Cardiff City on 20 September 2025 and a 1–0 home victory over Blackpool on 27 September. This magnificent run form kept them top of League One for nearly four weeks. They finally relinquished 1st place on 16 October 2025 following a sequence of draws and fixture shifts. [1, 2]

 

O'Keefe and Lapslie?

 

Cheers

 

Agreed. Sarcevic had a poor game yesterday and his booking was an atrocious tackle that looked like frustration more than anything. Sadly, he isn't influencing games like he did last season and is often chasing shadows in the centre of the park.

I would like to see Morgan have his chance. He had a decent debut at Orient but seems the sort of player who would help put our foot on the ball and actually try to establish some control in the game.

 

It's been confirmed this morning in the T&A that Touray won't be back until after the Reading game.

 

It is good to get a rave review from the opposition. Their podcast thinks our defence is immaculate.
They compare us to Lincoln, something of a surprise

 

The last time I went to Kenilworth Road Luton put 5 passed us with a certain Malcom MacDonald getting a hatrick, maybe he could still do a job for us up front , he certainly knew where the back of the net was for a player who started his career as a full back I believe.

 

One point clear at the top of the table and in the fourth round of the cup. And scored in every league match bar one. Not bad for the status quo is it.
Wright coming back should help the creativity a bit but probably weaken us slightly defensively.Sarcevic is better more advanced but at this moment I don’t think there is a better option where he is playing

 

Let's but it into some context
Luton 3 years ago where gracing the PL
City 2 years ago in the middle of a spell of
Walsall L
Wimbledon D
Harrogate L
Morecambe D

And bummed out by Grimsby in the league Cup

Now 2 years on we sit top of League 1 a huge potential of being in the League Cup quarter finals.

But somehow it ain't good enough.

From losing yet again to Harrogate to beating a team that graced the PL less than 3 years ago ain't enough

Honestly I get the means but let's seriously look at the bigger picture because I doubt 2 years ago when Harrogate were beating us again not one on here or across the City fanbase would have predicted how far we have come.

BTW the ones that gave heard my crap on this forum will know I am far from a happy clapper

 

Looking back at the cross from Jackson it was hardly a measured cross, he did well to skin his marker but IMO it was a more hit into the danger area and hope someone got on the end of it, Bobby did exceptional well to get power behind it but I thought a keeper shouldn't be beaten on his post from a header, Wilshere also made a similar comment, but a win at Luton is a rare result for us.