The Voice - Match preview #46: Exeter City vs Bradford City Saturday 2nd May 2026 3:00pm

EFL League One Fixture #46
Saturday 2nd May 2026 15:00
Exeter City (21st) vs Bradford City (5th)
St James Park

Record:
Games Won: 17
Games Drawn: 14
Games Lost: 18

Last 5:
07 Aug 2021: Exeter City 0 – 0 Bradford City
06 Nov 2021: Bradford City 1 – 1 Exeter City [FA Cup]
30 Nov 2021: Exeter City 2 – 1 Bradford City [FA Cup]
12 Feb 2022: Bradford City 0 – 1 Exeter City
29 Nov 2025: Bradford City 1 – 0 Exeter City

Exeter City:
Perhaps somewhat unnervingly for Bantams fans, relegation-threatened Exeter City head into their final game of the season – a must win if the Grecians are to have any chance of playing League One football next season – having scored 6 goals over the course of their last 2 home games. The competition wasn’t particularly ‘easy’, either, with Exeter City having dispatched Doncaster Rovers 3-0, and while it might be true to say that Doncaster didn’t have much to play for, Stockport County certainly did when Exeter City held them to a 3-3 draw at St James Park.

Away from home, too, Exeter City have certainly laid down a marker as ‘tough to beat’ of late with consecutive score draws at Plymouth Argyle (2-2) and Burton Albion (1-1). The worry for Exeter City fans is that this is all too little, too late. Prior to their resounding win over Doncaster Rovers, Exeter City hadn’t won in 15 league games, drawing 7 times and losing 8 – including a 5-game losing run during which the Grecians scored just 3 goals.

Now it’s come down to the wire, the final game of the season, and a last chance at redemption. Even then, it might not be enough for Exeter as Leyton Orient sit 2 points above them with a home game against Burton Albion to play on Saturday afternoon. Goal Difference is, however, in Exeter’s favour, meaning that a win against Bradford City would mean that even a draw won’t be enough to save Leyton Orient slipping through the League One trapdoor. Like Exeter, then, Leyton Orient will be approaching their game as a ‘must win’.

Exeter City might be thankful that this game isn’t quite such a ‘must win’ for their opponents; while a result of some kind is required for Bradford City to cement a top 6 spot, a draw would suffice. With Bradford City not known for blowing teams away or scoring a glut of goals, the longer it remains level, the more chance there is of a shock Exeter City win – at least, that’s what the Devon side will be hoping!

Striker Jayden Wareham (19) is far and away Exeter City’s biggest goal threat, and indeed the joint 2nd highest goalscorer in all of League One, tied with Kyle Wootton. The chances of pipping Dom Ballard (22) to the golden boot, however, are looking slim. Reece Cole (7) is next in the scoring charts, with veteran Josh Magennis (6) close behind. Not bad tallies for a side that could well be playing in English football’s fourth tier next season, and Wareham’s output is certainly something even promotion hopefuls Bradford City lack from a centre forward.

Wareham, for his part, scored the majority of his goals between November and March, before slowing up a bit of late. 3 goals in his last 10 outings represents a run of form almost as barren as the start he made to the season (2 goals in his first 12 games), his current dip in form unhelpfully book-ending the campaign. Still, Exeter City aren’t a one-man team, as they showed when 3 different goalscorers contributed to their 3-3 draw against Stockport. Reece Cole, Tymur Tutierov and Jack Bycroft all netted, with the latter grabbing a 90th minute equaliser.

Certainly one would expect Exeter City to fight until the very end here, making them a potentially very dangerous opponent for the Bantams.

Burton Albion 1 – 1 Exeter City


Exeter City 3 – 3 Stockport County


Bradford City:
The predicted victory over Bolton Wanderers did not materialise last weekend, but Bradford City did produce a display and result that underlines why they will not be considered an easy out for anyone in the coming playoffs – should they make it, of course. On that point, Bradford City aren’t quite there due to victories for both Plymouth Argyle and Luton town on Saturday. Plymouth in particular pulled it out of the bag with a 2-1 victory over relegated Port Vale despite having goalkeeper Conor Hazard dismissed in the 5th minute, an incident that would have given City fans hope that it would all be done and dusted ahead of a trip to Exeter City. Not to be, though, as the Bantams could still need one more point to guarantee a top 6 spot; a point that would, notably, see the Grecians relegated to League Two.

That is the cruel nature of football – one side’s quest for glory can condemn another to misery, and while even in defeat there’s a reasonable chance City will still make the top 6, that’s not something anyone at Valley Parade will want to risk. The Bantams will head into this game, then, knowing full well there is still work to do, and any win would bolster morale ahead of an incredibly tough playoff campaign. City have now gone 4 games without victory, and while 3 of their 4 opponents during that time all had promotion aspirations of their own in one way or another, it’s still a slight concern.

Away days may not be the most successful for City under Graham Alexander, but then the Bantams haven’t won any of their last 3 home games either… this is not the time for a wobble, or at least, it’s high time for a return to form! Overall, City’s home record has been superlative, at least the 4th best in the division depending on how Bolton fare this Saturday, and even their away record stands in line with most in the division. Sat 12th in the ‘Away’ league table, City’s 10 defeats from 22 games feel some way short of expectations, and they do have a worse away record than rivals Bolton Wanderers and Stockport County.

For now, though, the only thing that matters is avoiding defeat against Exeter City. With Exeter sat in the relegation zone and in need of results elsewhere, this is a game that will be difficult, but one that Graham Alexander and his players have no real need to fear. Even with their most potent attacking midfielders still sidelined (though Sarcevic may be available in some form or another), City have shown some resilience as well as welcoming the likes of Kayden Jackson and Nick Powell back into the fold. Will Swan, too, has relished his super sub role, and may look to carry that form forward should City make the playoffs.

Bradford City 1 – 1 Bolton Wanderers


Bradford City 1 – 1 Plymouth Argyle


Prediction:
Bradford City last won at Exeter City back in 1993 and have subsequently suffered a poor run of results at St James Park since the turn of the century. 1 draw and 4 defeats since 2000 is the kind of run that will give some Bantams fans cause for despair, but Graham Alexander’s men did end a run of 6 games without a win against the Grecians in all competitions with a 1-0 victory at Valley Parade in the reverse fixture. That game also ended a run of 7 games without a win for City as pertains to this season, a healthy omen after Bradford City have recently gone 4 games without tasting victory since they all-but-secured a playoff place courtesy of a 2-1 away win at Wycombe Wanderers.

Ironically, the reverse fixture also came after a draw against Bolton Wanderers, but less promisingly, preceded a 3-0 defeat to the Trotters in the EFL Trophy – let’s hope that history doesn’t follow that pattern too closely, as the game after Exeter City could yet be a playoff semi-final against… Bolton Wanderers!

Of late, there has been a real propensity for Bradford City to repeat previous outcomes. A second draw in the league against Bolton Wanderers came hot-on-the-heels of a second 2-2 draw against Barnsley, as well as a second 2-1 win over Wycombe Wanderers. Of course, there were worse outcomes sandwiched in the middle of those identical results: while City had beaten Plymouth Argyle 1-0 in the first fixture, the more recent game finished 1-1, while a 1-1 draw at Stevenage didn’t manifest at home replaced instead by a tight 1-0 defeat.

The ultimate result of that identical-or-slightly-worse run of reverse results is that the smart money would be on City grinding out a 1-0 win – or, should the less-desired part of the pattern continue, fall to a draw. Either will suffice, ultimately, but you can be assured City will be chasing all 3 points here.

The pick will be a final day away win for the Bantams, a heartbreaking 1-0 margin condemning Exeter City to the fourth tier. Kayden Jackson scored a beautiful goal against Bolton Wanderers, and I’d pick him to grab another here. Should Exeter City score themselves, the hope will be that the talismanic Antoni Sarcevic can not only make an appearance, but work the kind of magic only he seems able to harness as he looks to steer his side to a second successive promotion.

Final Score:
Exeter City 0 – 1 Bradford City