Bradford City vs York City Prediction, Betting Tips & Preview

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Bradford City

vs

York City

KickoffTuesday 10 November 2026, 7:30pm

VenueUniversity of Bradford Stadium

CompetitionEFL Trophy

TV ChannelSky Sports+

Bradford City went to Valley Parade at the weekend and absolutely battered Marine 7-0 in the FA Cup. Seven goals, comfortable, never in doubt. Nick Powell bagged two, Adam Phillips got two more, and Will Swan, George Lapslie and Matthew Pennington all chipped in. That is the kind of performance that reminds you this Bradford squad has genuine firepower when they are in the mood. The question now is whether Michael Duff can keep the momentum going in the EFL Trophy with what will almost certainly be a heavily rotated side.

York City also had a brilliant weekend, hammering Northampton 4-0 in the FA Cup and apparently scoring after just 10 seconds. When you are flying like that in cup football, there is an argument that confidence carries over regardless of the starting lineup. But York know they are already out of this Trophy group regardless of the result, and that context matters when you are picking your team.

Bradford City vs York City Match Details

This is the third and final EFL Trophy group stage fixture in Northern Group C, played at Valley Parade in Bradford. Bradford head into it as group leaders while York sit bottom, meaning the competitive stakes are limited even if local pride and player minutes make the game worth caring about.

Team News

Both managers are expected to shuffle their packs significantly given the lack of jeopardy in the Trophy and the importance of protecting key players ahead of league commitments. Here is the injury and availability picture heading into the match.

• Bradford captain Antoni Sarcevic is suspended after his red card in the 3-0 derby defeat to Huddersfield
• Bobby Pointon picked up an injury during the FA Cup win over Marine and is set to miss out
• Josh Neufville is also sidelined and will not feature
• Cameron Dawson is expected to come in for Jon McCracken in goal for Bradford
• Harry Cartwright could get a start after being recalled to the squad
• George Lapslie scored against Marine and could get a full start here
• For York, George Sykes-Kenworthy is expected to return to the starting lineup
• Jack Hunt could come back into the back four for the Minstermen
• Vice-captain Ollie Pearce scored twice at the weekend and is likely to be rested
• Afolabi Akinyemi is in contention to lead the York attack

Predicted Lineups

Bradford are likely to go with a mix of fringe players and those who need minutes. Dawson should start in goal, with the back line featuring Welch, Matthews and Gillesphey. Lapslie gets his chance from kick off after his goal at the weekend, with Swan also likely to continue up front.

Bradford City predicted lineup: Dawson; Welch, Matthews, Gillesphey; Ibbitson, Morgan, Cartwright, O’Keeffe; Lapslie, Humphrys, Swan

York will also rotate heavily. Sykes-Kenworthy comes in between the sticks, Hunt slots back into defence, and with Pearce rested, Akinyemi gets the nod to lead the line. It is a decent looking second string but very much a squad game for Scott Lindsey.

York City predicted lineup: Sykes-Kenworthy; J Hunt, Palmer, McArthur; Felix, Stiver, Read, Medley; Malcolm, Akinyemi, Maguire

Recent Form

Bradford’s recent league run has been patchy, to put it diplomatically. Just one win from their last six in League One has left them outside the playoff places, and that Halloween thrashing at the hands of Huddersfield, 3-0 and their skipper sent off, was a rough night. But the 7-0 cup win has injected a bit of life back into the camp and you can imagine Duff will want to use this Trophy game to build on that feeling even with a rotated XI.

York’s league form has actually been pretty encouraging since coming up. Five wins, five draws and four defeats puts Scott Lindsey’s side in the playoff picture in League Two, which is a solid return for a team that only came back to the Football League after a decade away. That promotion last season was dramatic too, a Josh Stones goal in the 13th minute of stoppage time against Rochdale to nick it. These are a club with spirit.

The issue for York is their Trophy form. Two defeats in two group games tells its own story, and even with the momentum of a thumping FA Cup win over Northampton, they are walking into Valley Parade knowing the group is already done and dusted. That psychological context is not ideal when you are trying to build cohesion in a rotated lineup.

Head-to-Head Record

These two do not meet all that regularly given the gap in divisions over recent years, but Bradford are the stronger side on paper and playing at home. Valley Parade is a ground where Bradford have tended to make their advantage count in cup competitions, and with York rotating heavily, it is hard to see the visitors troubling a Bantams side that just rattled in seven goals four days earlier.

The gulf in quality between the third and fourth tier matters here too. Bradford may be going through a wobble in League One, but that is still a step above what York are dealing with week to week in League Two.

Key Stats

• Bradford scored 7 goals against Marine in the FA Cup, their biggest win of the season so far
• York have lost both of their EFL Trophy group games and cannot progress regardless of the result
• Bradford sit outside the League One playoff places with one win in their last six, but have a game in hand on four of the top six

Bradford City vs York City Betting Tips

This fixture suits a confident Bradford win. York are rotating, they are already out of the Trophy, and they are coming to a ground where the home side just put seven past a National League North team. The Bantams have attacking players who will want to impress Duff with their case for a league starting spot, and that extra motivation should tell.

Over and Under Goals Prediction

Under 2.5 goals feels the safer angle. Both sides are rotating heavily and Trophy group games that have no bearing on qualification tend to be low key affairs rather than shootouts. Under 2.5 is the call.

First Goalscorer Prediction

George Lapslie scored against Marine at the weekend and looks set to start from the off here. He will be motivated to push for a regular league starting spot and a home tie against the bottom side of the group is a good opportunity. Back him to open the scoring.

Corners Prediction

With Bradford expected to dominate possession and territory, they should be forcing York back and generating a decent number of corners from wide areas. Over 8.5 corners looks reasonable with Bradford pushing for goals through wide channels.

Correct Score Prediction

Bradford to win 2-0. The Bantams have the firepower and the home advantage, York will keep things tight without truly threatening, and a clean sheet for the hosts feels very much on the cards given York are fielding a rotated side with their best forward rested.

Cards Prediction

With both managers resting regulars and this being a low stakes EFL Trophy fixture, expect a fairly calm evening in terms of discipline. Neither side has a particular reason to go in hard, and the referee should have a quiet night. Under 3.5 cards is the sensible play.

Bet Builder Tip

Bradford winning to nil feels firmly on with York rotating and already eliminated, and Lapslie starting and looking to impress makes him an appealing first scorer to stack on top.

Final Match Prediction

Bradford City 2-0 York City is the prediction and the reasoning is straightforward. The Bantams are a division above, playing at home, and coming off a 7-0 cup thrashing that will have everyone in the dressing room feeling sharp. Even with a rotated squad, the difference in quality should shine through.

York have been admirable in League Two and their promotion story is one of the nicer ones from last season, but Scott Lindsey will know this competition is already over for his side and his focus is firmly on the weekend. Bradford to pick up the three points and book their place in the knockout rounds.

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