The Voice - Match preview #32: AFC Wimbledon vs Bradford City Saturday 21st February 2026 3:00pm

EFL League One Fixture #32
Saturday 21st February 2026 15:00
AFC Wimbledon (16th) vs Bradford City (4th)
Cherry Red Records Stadium (AKA Plough Lane)

Record:
Games Won: 7
Games Drawn: 5
Games Lost: 6

Last 5:
14 Oct 2023: AFC Wimbledon 0 – 1 Bradford City
03 Feb 2024: Bradford City 0 – 0 AFC Wimbledon
21 Sep 2024: Bradford City 0 – 0 AFC Wimbledon
01 Feb 2025: AFC Wimbledon 1 – 0 Bradford City
30 Aug 2025: Bradford City 3 – 2 AFC Wimbledon

AFC Wimbledon:
AFC Wimbledon’s promotion from League Two last campaign was predicated on having the meanest defence in the division – by some distance. While AFC Wimbledon weren’t particularly prolific in front of goal, it was a tally of just 35 goals conceded across 46 games that cemented their place in League One this season. The next best defence, for comparison, was that of Bradford City, and yet the Bantams conceded a full 10 goals more.

Fast forward to February 2026, however, and that penchant for clean sheets (a penchant that saw AFC Wimbledon win all 3 of their playoff fixtures via 1-0 shut outs) has deserted them at this higher level. Still, despite being playoff winners, AFC Wimbledon continue to out-perform fellow promotees Doncaster Rovers and Port Vale, although they are some distance behind (surprise?) promotion-chasers Bradford City.

The truth is, AFC Wimbledon’s defence has struggled this campaign, particularly of late. With 7 goals shipped in their last 2 league outings, and 9 in their last 3, the Dons have had to look for increased success at the other end of the pitch.

A recent 3-3 draw at Barnsley showed Johnnie Jackson’s side have both the resilience and character to cause teams problems, and the 3-2 win that preceded it at home to Reading was evidence they can upset the formbook on their day. Reading, one of the sides surging towards playoff contention, were on good form, and that result remains the Royals’ only defeat in their last 7 league outings. Top scorer Marcus Browne (10) hit a hattrick that day and duly chalked up another in the draw at Barnsley, though he was unable to continue his hot streak in the 4-1 defeat at Cardiff City on Tuesday night.

Bradford City fans might not be surprised to hear that Matty Stevens (6) is the club’s next most potent goalscorer, with both Browne and Stevens having been on the scoresheet at Valley Parade earlier this season, and with Stevens in particular giving Joe Wright a torrid afternoon. That said, Stevens hasn’t been an automatic first team choice of late, with Jackson seemingly preferring the likes of Omar Bugiel (4), the returning James Tilley, and 18 year old Junior Nkeng, with Stevens coming on as a first half substitute for the injured Bugiel in South Wales.

Nkeng in particular has impressed Jackson, despite still seeking his first professional goal. Jackson commented that Nkeng has “done great”, and “just loves playing football”, but the Wimbledon manager is also asking more of his set piece takers, too. Steve Seddon, James Tilley and Jake Reeves were all recently singled out as players who could “put decent balls in”, but Jackson stated he wanted his team to score more and be “even more aggressive” in the area.

There has been unfortunate news for Jackson and his side, however, as loanee Layton Stewart, signed on February 2nd from Swiss side Thun, has been ruled out after a “setback”. He will not, therefore, be in the running to stand in for Bugiel, with a likely front 3 of Tilley, Nkeng and Stevens.

Barnsley 3 – 3 AFC Wimbledon


Cardiff City 4 – 1 AFC Wimbledon


Bradford City:
Bradford City made the most of back-to-back home games with successive shut outs of Peterborough United (2-0) and Stockport County (1-0), reinforcing their status as one of the best home sides in the division. 3rd overall in the ‘Home’ league table, but 2nd on points-per-game (since Lincoln City have played a game more), there’s no question Valley Parade remains a daunting fortress for away sides.

But here comes the bad news… 5 defeats in their last 6 away games has dampened (if not derailed) the club’s automatic promotion ambitions, and their poor away form continues courtesy of a succession of cup defeats at the likes of Cheltenham Town (FA Cup, 1-0), Doncaster Rovers (EFL Trophy, 3-1) and Bolton Wanderers (EFL Trophy, 3-0). Hard fought wins at Plymouth Argyle (December) and Blackpool (January) remain their only successes on the road across all competitions since beating Cardiff City back in September.

Put simply, that’s 2 away wins in their last 14 attempts across all competitions… a damning statistic, and a problem that won’t readily disappear. That said, City’s superb start to life as a League One club continues to buoy them significantly, and the Bantams remain 11th in the ‘Away’ league table – a standing that now seems untenable on current form.

With a playoff place to protect, and with an ‘easier’ (quote-unquote) run of games with fewer top sides to play in the coming weeks, it really does feel like it’s now or never in terms of correcting those away day blues. AFC Wimbledon would be a fine place to start. A team sat 22nd in the ‘Home’ league table, Johnnie Jackson’s men are no great shakes at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, having picked up just 5 wins and 18 points from 14 games.

Bradford City must look to grind out another narrow win, and a shut-out against the division’s lowest-scoring home team would be a huge achievement all the same. With Sam Walker on fine form, and with the likes of Curtis Tilt, Aden Baldwin and Matthew Pennington all regaining form, there is yet hope City can perform a successful raid away from the safe confines of the University of Bradford Stadium.

Josh Neufville in particular will be up for the challenge against his former suitors, and promising new boy Kayden Jackson will look to keep the good times rolling after bagging his first goal against Peterborough United. With Bobby Pointon and Antoni Sarcevic back up and running, too, and Jayden Metcalfe looking evermore impressive in midfield, City certainly have the personnel – it’s just a case of getting out there and getting it done against a team that could be there for the pickings.

Bradford City 1 – 0 Stockport County


Bradford City 2 – 0 Peterborough United


Prediction:
Johnnie Jackson was quick to point out that after netting 3 against both Reading and Barnsley in successive league outings, his side registered 16 shots at Cardiff City in spite of the lopsided scoreline. The focus on attack is clear: unable to rely so readily on a mean defence this season, AFC Wimbledon must feel their best chance of staying up is improving their output at the other end of the pitch.

An uptick was required for that to work, however, as AFC Wimbledon currently possess the second-lowest xG in the division! The gamble to focus on firepower could be a risky one; while they have scored more freely, they have also conceded a glut of goals at the wrong end of the pitch, exacerbating an already existent problem. Now they face a team with the 5th best defence in the league in Bradford City, a side with a fully fit and reinforced front line of their own. Of course, City’s weakness isn’t specifically in attack or defence; it seems to be, as was the case last season, a tale of deteriorating away form.

Successive defeats at all of Huddersfield Town, Lincoln City and Luton Town can at least be attributed to the fact those are all teams in the top half of the table, but the trend remains a worry. However, Mansfield Town, for their part, are level on points with AFC Wimbledon and cruised to an easy 3-0 win over the Bantams at Field Mill, which is certainly not the best omen. Getting some confidence back into the team on these away days is crucial for Graham Alexander, but it isn’t something the gaffer has specialised in during his time at Valley Parade. While the home form remains exceptional, there is a much softer underbelly on display on those arduous away days.

As pointed out above, however, AFC Wimbledon have the third poorest home record in the division and are joint-lowest scorers on home soil.

While Johnnie Jackson focuses on addressing that lack of firepower, City might be able to time this one perfectly, performing another shut out on the merit of their own defensive capabilities, while taking advantage at the other end of the pitch. The pick will be a 2-0 away win for the Bantams, but if Wimbledon are able to besiege City’s goal from the off, they could present a greater threat than it might appear on paper.

Final Score:
AFC Wimbledon 0 – 2 Bradford City