Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia

Bradfordvs.Rotherham

sportsmole.co.uk, 17 November 2024, 20:57
League Two promotion hopefuls Bradford City are set to host League One side Rotherham United at the University of Bradford Stadium on Tuesday in their third match in the EFL Trophy.

Bradford are second in their four-team group with four points after two matches and beat Mansfield Town 3-0 in their last outing in the EFL Trophy on September 17, while the visiting team are first with six points from a possible six and defeated Newcastle United-U21s 3-1 on October 8.

Match preview

The home team were rampant against Mansfield considering they created three big chances, produced 17 shots and forced their opponents' goalkeeper to make six saves.

Bradford drew 1-1 with Colchester United last time out on Saturday in League One, a match in which Colchester scored an equaliser in the ninth minute of second-half stoppage time and cancelled out Andy Cook's 30th-minute opener.

Head coach Graham Alexander noted that his players were bitterly disappointed by the result but refused to be critical of those who featured, telling reporters: "I can't say anything negative about the players - they have given absolutely everything."

Alexander's side are eighth in League One, one place and two points from the last of four promotion playoff spots, though they are fortunate to still be within touching distance given they have lost two, drawn two and won just once in their five most recent games in all competitions.

Despite their struggles of late, Bradford's record at home has remained strong, with the team having triumphed in eight of their last 12 matches at the University of Bradford Stadium.

As for Rotherham, they were deserving winners when they played Newcastle United Under-21s considering they managed to produce 17 shots and three big chances in comparison to Newcastle's five shots and one big chance.

The visitors come into Tuesday's clash having lost 2-0 against Barnsley on November 8 in League One, a game that they worryingly only registered three of their four shots from inside the penalty area in the 72nd minute or later in.

The loss left boss Steve Evans's team in 17th place with 17 points, just four points clear of fourth last Crawley Town, who occupy the division's first relegation spot.

Rotherham are in poor form having lost four, drawn one and been triumphant in one of their last six matches, conceding 10 goals and failing to score on three occasions.

The Millers' away form is even worse, with the club having registered just one victory in their nine games on the road this term, losing five and drawing three.

Bradford City EFL Trophy form:

L

W

Bradford City form (all competitions):

W

D

L

W

L

D

Rotherham United EFL Trophy form:

W

W

Rotherham United form (all competitions):

D

L

L

W

L

L

Team News

Bradford will be without defender Ciaran Kelly, though Aden Baldwin is scheduled to make a return to action in some capacity over the next week.

However, Baldwin is unlikely to start, so perhaps the hosts will field a back four consisting of Jay Benn, Jack Shepherd, Cheick Diabate and Lewis Richards.

Midfielders Antoni Sarcevic and Alex Pattison could also make their comebacks from injury, though it would not be surprising if Richard Smallwood took up a midfield spot in a double pivot on Tuesday.

As for Rotherham, forwards Jonson Clarke-Harris and Mallik Wilks may make an appearance for the visitors but are unlikely to start.

In their absence, the away team may select a front two featuring Jordan Hugill and Detlef Esapa Osong.

Elsewhere, Shaun McWilliams and Joe Powell could start in midfield in front of centre-backs Harrison Duncan and Zak Jules.

Bradford City possible starting lineup:

Doyle; Benn, Shepherd, Diabate, Richards; Pointon, Smallwood, Pattison, Adams; Oliver, Sanderson

Rotherham United possible starting lineup:

Phillips; Rafferty, Duncan, Jules, Bramall; Holmes, McWilliams, Powell, Hungbo; Hugill, Osong

We say: Bradford City 1-2 Rotherham United

Bradford will be pleased by their showings in League Two, but will perhaps prioritise their promotion charge rather than Tuesday's game.

Previews by email
Show more

Top News

16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has admitted that his side need to find a way to "take a step forward" against the best teams in the Premier League. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Marco Silva's Fulham made it four wins from their last six Premier League matches when they left it late to beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 at Craven Cottage on Sunday. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Athletic Bilbao have reportedly identified a top-performing Championship attacker as a potential summer transfer target. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate is fit to start for Liverpool in this afternoon's EFL Cup final against Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Mikel Merino's header was the difference as Arsenal strengthened their grip on second place in the Premier League table with a 1-0 victory over London rivals Chelsea at the Emirates. 16 March 2025 talksport.com A trip to the south of Spain can sort anyone out, even Manchester United's Antony. 16 March 2025 talksport.com Barry Ferguson made history as Rangers snatched a dramatic Old Firm victory over bitter rivals Celtic. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Scottish Premiership champions-elect Celtic missed the opportunity to move one step closer to the title and set a new Old Firm record after losing 3-2 at home to bitter rivals Rangers on Sunday afternoon. 16 March 2025 talksport.com Manchester United's new stadium could find itself hosting a Carabao Cup final in the future. 16 March 2025 talksport.com Martin Odegaard has continued his stunning record against Chelsea since signing for Arsenal. 16 March 2025 talksport.com Follow all the action as Liverpool and Newcastle compete for the first major trophy of the season in the Carabao Cup final. 16 March 2025 talksport.com Ruben Loftus-Cheek had a cheeky explanation as to why he remained on the turf following Dele Alli's challenge on Saturday. 16 March 2025 talksport.com Under-21 goalkeeper Dermot Mee, 22, is set to make his Manchester United debut at Leicester tonight, talkSPORT understands. 16 March 2025 talksport.com Neil Harris abruptly ended his post-match interview after a damning assessment of his Cambridge United players. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal are supposedly among the clubs keeping a watchful eye on Lille's teenage sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea attacker Cole Palmer is not in the Blues' squad to face Arsenal in Sunday's Premier League London derby at the Emirates. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly learned what it will take to prise Jobe Bellingham away from Sunderland in the summer transfer window. 16 March 2025 talksport.com At his current rate, Arne Slot may well have his own mural at Anfield, but he'll certainly hope it's better than the first big tribute of his career. 16 March 2025 talksport.com Victor Osimhen will be a Premier League player next season, talkSPORT has been told. 16 March 2025 talksport.com talkSPORT has you covered for all the latest Premier League news in a jam-packed weekend of football. 16 March 2025 talksport.com talkSPORT has you covered for all the latest Premier League news in a jam-packed weekend of football. 16 March 2025 talksport.com Valencia captain Jose Gaya showed his commitment to the relegation-threatened side by playing through a painful finger dislocation. 16 March 2025 talksport.com Dele Alli's announced his return to football with a red card less than 10 minutes after coming off the bench in a 2-1 loss to AC Milan. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly weighing up an approach for 18-year-old Nordsjaelland winger Sindre Walle Egeli, who has been likened to Bayern Munich legend Arjen Robben. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has warned La Liga that Saturday's game against Villarreal is "the last time" that his side will take to the field less than 72 hours between matches. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier has reportedly 'grabbed the attention' of Manchester United, who are debating whether to pursue an Andre Onana upgrade this summer. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has reportedly expressed a shock interest in signing Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez, who is expected to be given the boot by Anfield chiefs this summer. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Former Premier League striker Jermain Defoe has exclusively told Sports Mole that nobody should be surprised that Marcus Rashford has excelled on loan at Aston Villa. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 16 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Philadelphia vs. Nashville (Sunday, 6.25pm) The first of three MLS fixtures on Sunday will see the Philadelphia Union seeking to maintain their 100% record when they host Nashville SC at Subaru Park.