Bradford City host Cardiff in a massive top of Sky Bet League One showdown at Valley Parade.
Victory would lift Bradford up to second and to within three points of table-topping Cardiff, whilst the Bluebirds will stay top regardless of the result.
Team News
New loan signings, Harrison Ashby and Joe White are set to make their debuts for Bradford.
Bobby Pointon (foot) could return but Matthew Pennington and Nick Powell (both hamstring) remain absent.
Cardiff could be without Omari Kellyman after he suffered a groin injury in their 1-1 draw at Leyton Orient.
Dylan Lawlor (hamstring) missed the trip to East London and is unlikely to be fit for selection, as too are Calum Chambers (glute) and Ronan Kpakio (knee0.
Eli King (knee) and Rubin Colwill (ankle) remain sidelined.
When is Kick-Off?
Bradford host Cardiff at Valley Parade on Saturday 17 January at 12:30pm GMT, live on Sky Sports+ in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Bradford have lost two of their last eight meetings against Cardiff (W5, D1, L2).
- Cardiff have won three of their seven previous visits to Bradford (W3, L4).
- Two of Cardiff’s three wins at Bradford were by 1-0 results in September 1929 and January 2004 respectively.
- Bradford have scored six goals and conceded one goal in their last four home games (W4).
- Cardiff have claimed just two of nine available points in their last three away games (D2, L1).
Prediction
With their game against Rotherham having been called off last weekend due to a frozen pitch, Bradford will be hopeful that Pointon is back in contention given his importance, but they know that this ideally is must-win if want to keep pace with the Bluebirds so a clinical repeat of the win at Blackpool is needed here.
Cardiff meanwhile have hit a rut in their recent away trips but did well to grind out a draw at Leyton Orient where they were outplayed in terms of shots, so more intensity and clinical composure will be needed if want to stop their away rut.
I however don’t see this being an easy trip for the Bluebirds because Bradford seem to have got their home groove back now, so a draw might well be a fair call.
Prediction: Bradford 1-1 Cardiff
Result: Bradford 1-2 Cardiff