Bradford City will hope to build on their recent upturn in form when they host Barnsley at Valley Parade this Saturday. City are unbeaten in three matches following their impressive 2-1 away victory against Accrington Stanley last time out. Goals from Lee Novak and Eoin Doyle gave the Bantams a priceless three points on the road as they look to pull further clear of the relegation zone.
Sat in 18th place, manager Gary Bowyer will know his side need to start picking up wins on home soil if they are to extend their comfortable cushion above the bottom four. They have struggled for consistency at Valley Parade this term, with just five victories recorded so far from 16 matches. Bowyer will demand a reaction from his players in front of their own fans against a Barnsley side who sit just one spot below them in the table.
The Tykes head to Bradford with confidence building under Daniel Stendel after moving four points above the drop zone themselves. German boss Stendel has steadied the ship since arriving at Oakwell in October, winning three of his last five Championship matches️. A narrow 1-0 success over Norwich City last time out was hugely important for lifting morale. Barnsley will see this trip to West Yorkshire as a chance to inflict further misery on struggling City and move further away from the bottom three themselves.
Strikers Kieffer Moore and Cauley Woodrow will look to continue their promising partnership up front for the visitors. Moore has five goals already this term while Woodrow scored his third of the campaign at Carrow Road. They will look to exploit any frailties in a nervous Bradford defence that has kept just one clean sheet in ten home games so far. Full backs Danny Andrews and Dimitri Cavare will be tasked with providing the width and service into the box for the front two.
It promises to be a tense encounter under floodlights at Valley Parade with crucial points at stake for both sides. Bowyer will demand a redoubling of effort from his players to arrest their poor home run. Three points would lift City up to 15th and seven clear of the drop zone heading into Christmas. For Barnsley, victory would see them climb above their opponents and significantly ease relegation fears going into the New Year. It has all the ingredients for a nervy affair between two teams desperate for validation. - https://mbscore.tv/match/bradford-city-vs-barnsley-18929734

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Pub: 20 Nov 2023 02:07 UTC
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