The Voice - Match preview #44: Chesterfield vs Bradford City Monday 21st April 2025 3:00pm

EFL League Two Fixture #44
Monday 21st April 2025 15:00
Chesterfield (9th) vs Bradford City (3rd)
SMH Group Stadium

Record:
Games Won: 48
Games Drawn: 28
Games Lost: 24

Last 5:
01 Oct 2016: Chesterfield 0 – 1 Bradford City
07 Jan 2017: Bradford City 2 – 0 Chesterfield
29 Aug 2017: Chesterfield 2 – 4 Bradford City [EFL Trophy]
04 Nov 2017: Bradford City 2 – 0 Chesterfield [FA Cup]
29 Dec 2024: Bradford City 2 – 1 Chesterfield

Chesterfield
Sat in 9th place and 3 points off the playoffs with an advantage in terms of Goal Difference over 7th place Colchester United, the season is most certainly not over for Chesterfield. One of the more potent attacking sides with the 4th highest goal tally of 65, Chesterfield’s main weakness upon their return to the EFL has been their mediocre defensive record. 50 goals shipped is the joint-10th best defensive record, although that has improved recently as the Spireites have embarked upon an impressive run of form.

With 6 wins, 3 draws and just 1 defeat from their last 10 fixtures, Chesterfield sit top of the divisional ‘Form’ table for that period. Unfortunately for them, Colchester United, the team they are currently and most realistically chasing for a playoff spot, are sat second in that same ‘Form’ table, with Chesterfield having made up just a single point during that period.

While it’s looking like Chesterfield have left it late for a promotion push, the fact is they are still contenders, and their ‘Home’ record is pretty good. Sat 7th in the ‘Home’ league table, Chesterfield have lost just 3 league fixtures at the SMH Group Stadium all season, though a proliferation of draws on home soil has cost them dearly. 9 wins and 9 draws proves how hard Chesterfield are to beat, but doesn’t speak to a side as ruthless as they perhaps needed to be. Should they ultimately miss out on the playoffs, it’s likely Paul Cook will be asked to account for the sheer weight of tied homes games ahead of the new season.

Even on their recent table-topping form, Chesterfield have drawn home games against the likes of Gillingham (1-1) and Harrogate Town (0-0), both fixtures they would have been expecting to win were they worthy of League One football. Wins over Fleetwood Town (3-0) and Carlisle United (2-1) don’t speak to an especially ruthless streak at the SHM Group Stadium, although they did thrash local rivals Doncaster Rovers 5-2 back in February, and have produced consistently good results against top 7 rivals.

None of Port Vale, Doncaster Rovers, Walsall, AFC Wimbledon, Notts County or Colchester United have won their this season, and the chances aren’t looking great that Bradford City will buck the trend either with their poor away record. Still, the fact is we are at the business end of the season and the pressure has never been higher. Chesterfield face their own pressure in that they are a side chasing a playoff place, and a draw at home to Bradford City does them very few favours. It might just be that Paul Cook’s side are forced to play a little more aggressively than they normally would, possibly leading to a more open game. Again, Chesterfield are pretty much at the ‘Must Win’ stage of the campaign.

Chesterfield’s joint top scorer, 33 year old Will Grigg (9) has scored just 1 goal in his last 8 outings, while Armando Dobra (9) has seen the goals dry up even more with 1 goal in 15 appearances. Third-highest scorer James Berry (7) signed for Wycombe Wanderers in January, while Dilan Markanday (6) who looked particularly dangerous at Valley Parade is now on loan at Leyton Orient. The once-ruthless Paddy Madden (5) could still be a factor despite being used primarily as a substitute, while 22 year old Luton Town loanee Aribim Pebble (5) might not be a name familiar to many City fans but is likely to start. He has moved up to League Two football after spending the first half of the season on loan at Southend United.

Notably, Chesterfield sit second in the ‘Possession’ league table, behind only Notts County – but in recent games, with their form at it’s best, they have posted some truly remarkable statistics. In the home games against Gillingham and Harrogate Town, for example, the club had over 70 % possession. Despite this, they won neither, drawing both. Against Carlisle United at home, Chesterfield had 81.1 % possession, partly down to the fact Carlisle went down to 10 men after just 40 minutes. Chesterfield only narrowly won out 2-1.

Chesterfield 3 – 0 Fleetwood Town


AFC Wimbledon 0 – 0 Chesterfield


Bradford City:
Bradford City picked up another point at Valley Parade this past Thursday night, but only a point as they were held 1-1 by a Notts County side that enjoyed much of the possession but still struggled to produce much outside of a few comfortable saves for Sam Walker and a stunning long range effort from storied forward David McGoldrick.

Still, Chesterfield would love to swap places with the faltering Bantams, who will be worried that their poor away form might cost them an automatic promotion spot.

The fact is, Graham Alexander’s side aren’t even in the top half of the ‘Away’ league table, and while it’s expected that most times will be better at home, the difference it has made for the Bantams has made them almost a Jekyll and Hyde-type team. Just 5 wins from 21 away league games tells it’s own story, and their promotion hopes have been pinned almost entirely on fixtures at Valley Parade.

Sadly, the next 2 games will not take place in Bradford, and for better or worse neither opponent will be playing for nothing. Chesterfield have approached ‘must win’ territory as they hope to grab a playoff place with a late surge, while Doncaster Rovers have already moved ahead of the Bantams and will seek to secure the League Two title or at least a top 3 finish next weekend.

If Bradford City should fail to grab an automatic promotion spot this season, the 5-4 defeat against Swindon Town will likely be seen as one of the biggest fails of the season. 2-0 up and at long last cruising away from home, captain Richie Smallwood dropped the clanger of all clangers on the 14th minute with a challenge that elicited a red card from referee Thomas Kirk. As bravely as the Bantams fought, and as well as they attacked at times, Swindon Town grabbed two late goals to seal a win they probably deserved on balance.

Now the Bantams approach the home stretch with just 2 wins from their last 8 games. If they cannot pick up at least 1 win from their next 2 away games and finally buck that trend, then City will be entirely reliant on results elsewhere – a situation no club wants to find themselves in.

Bradford City 1 – 1 Notts County


Swindon Town 5 – 4 Bradford City


Prediction:
Bradford City have a truly exceptional record against Chesterfield. The Bantams have defeated the Spireites in all of their last 7 outings, have won twice as many games against Chesterfield as have their opponents overall, and have a history of going on long unbeaten runs against their Derbyshire rivals. That should be a comforting omen, but the fact is, history is just that: the past.

This Saturday’s game is one that holds huge ramifications for both clubs in the present, and there looks to be no signs of Chesterfield rolling over and accepting another season in League Two. They will fight, and they are on form.

Still, Bradford City are the team in charge of their own destiny, while Chesterfield have to rely on results elsewhere to secure a playoff place. That isn't an accident, and both teams are where they deserve to be after 43 games – the question now is, can Chesterfield beat Bradford City at the SMH Group Stadium and potentially even secure a playoff semi-final tie with Bradford City as a result?

Graham Alexander, his playing staff, and the entire Bradford City support will hope not, and realistically the pick here is a draw. While Chesterfield are a good side with quality players, and while Bradford City are weakened by the absence of Richie Smallwood among other more long term absentees, the Spireites are still too prone to a tied game on home soil. Bradford City have also drawn 7 on the road, though their most routine result away from home is admittedly defeat (9). Had Chesterfield won more games at home, a Spireites victory would seem like a more solid bet – but this feels like it will be too close to call with too much on the line for either side to really stamp their authority on the game.

The pick will be a 1-1 draw, most likely with City taking the lead much as they did against Notts County at Valley Parade this past Thursday, and like they did at Swindon Town in their most recent (and most heartbreaking) away outing.

The pick will also be that it will be enough in the long run as Bradford City should still be able to secure a promotion spot with a final day victory at home to Fleetwood Town given the poor form of closest rivals of Walsall and AFC Wimbledon.

Hope remains!

Final Score:
Chesterfield 1 – 1 Bradford City