2025-26 League One: Week Nine – Cardiff vs Bradford

Cardiff City meet Bradford City in a top of 2025-26 League One showdown.

Locked on 17 points apiece coming into this matchweek, victory would see Cardiff stay top of the table, whilst Bradford can leapfrog the Bluebirds onto the summit with a win.

 

Team News

Cardiff could be without Gabriel Osho and Dylan Lawlor after the pair suffered groin injuries in the Bluebirds’ Vertu Trophy win at Exeter.

Alex Robertson could make his first appearance of the season following his recovery from a hamstring injury.

Bradford will be without midfielder, Alex Pattison due to concussion protocols after he was knocked out in their 3-1 home win over Huddersfield.

Neill Byrne (knee), Lewis Richards (shoulder) and Calum Kavanagh (shin) remain ruled out.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Cardiff host Bradford at Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday 20 September at 3pm BST, untelevised live in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Cardiff have won two of their last five meetings against Bradford (W2, L3).
• Bradford have lost just one of their last six visits to Cardiff (W3, D2, L1).
• Cardiff have kept just one clean sheet in seven previous home games against Bradford (W2, D2, L3).
• Rubin Colwill has scored in all three of Cardiff’s home games this season (W3).
• Will Swan has scored in each of Bradford’s last four away games in all competitions (W2, D1, L1).

 

Prediction

Having seen their recent winning league run hit a minor snag in their draw at Stockport, Cardiff had their defence and a clinical late injury-time equaliser to thank for that point because they were otherwise outplayed so a huge improvement will be needed if they’re to avoid a first loss.

Bradford meanwhile mounted the perfect response to their sloppy away loss at Doncaster with a ruthless first half but this will now be their biggest test against more-recent Championship standard opposition, where their defence will need to be absolutely resilient with little room for error.

Cardiff though don’t have the best home record against Bradford but they should be good for a draw if avoid a repeat of their performance of last weekend, especially if Bradford don’t revert to the quality seen at Doncaster a fortnight ago.

Prediction: Cardiff 1-1 Bradford

Result: Cardiff 1-3 Bradford