Preview: Barrow vs. Bradford City

Sports Mole previews Tuesday’s League Two clash between Barrow and Bradford City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Barrow will have the chance to guarantee a spot in the League Two playoffs when they play host to Bradford City on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Bantams are sitting in 10th place and looking to claim a victory that would keep their playoff hopes alive.

Match preview
© Reuters

Barrow still have work to do to secure a top-seven finish after losing four of their last five matches, including a 4-2 loss in Saturday’s away clash with Doncaster Rovers.

The Bluebirds looked set to end their winless run after establishing a two-goal half-time lead thanks to efforts from Emile Acquah and Rory Feely.

However, Pete Wild’s side were ultimately left empty-handed following a disastrous second half where they shipped four goals to leave them without a win in 10 away matches.

Despite experiencing a poor run of results, the sixth-placed side will secure a playoff place with a game to spare if they beat Bradford in Tuesday’s home clash.

With Barrow targeting three crucial points, they can draw inspiration from the fact they have won each of their previous three games against Bradford.

The Bantams kept their playoff bid alive with a dramatic comeback victory in Saturday’s away clash against fellow top-seven hopefuls Walsall.

After conceding two goals in the opening 16 minutes, Bradford managed to halve the deficit through Andy Cook before Jamie Walker netted a brace to clinch a 3-2 win.

Having won four of their previous five matches, the Bantams are four points adrift of seventh-placed Crawley Town with two games left to play against Barrow and Newport County.

They know that a win is a must if they are to enter the final weekend of the season with realistic hopes of securing a top-seven finish for a second straight season.

After losing their last three head-to-head meetings, the visitors are looking to beat Barrow for the first time since recording a 2-1 away win in January 2022.

Barrow League Two form:

Bradford City League Two form:

Team News
Although Barrow have reported no fresh injury concerns, they will be unable to call upon George Ray, who will serve the final game of a three-match suspension after being sent off against Gillingham earlier this month.

Cole Stockton could be brought into the starting lineup, having scored seven goals in 15 appearances since joining the club in January.

Acquah is set to retain his place in the side after finding the net in Barrow’s last two matches against Crawley and Doncaster.

As for the Bantams, they are likely to be without the services of Kevin McDonald, Alex Pattison, Sam Stubbs and Ash Taylor.

Bradford boss Graham Alexander will be forced into at least one change after Walker was sent off in the 68th minute of Saturday’s win over Walsall.

Alex Gillead could be brought into the side to replace Walker, having returned from injury to feature as a substitute in the last two games.

Barrow possible starting lineup:
Farman; Feely, Chester, Canavan; Stephenson, Spence, Campbell, Gotts, Newby; Acquah, Stockton

Bradford City possible starting lineup:
Walker; Oyegoke, Kelly, Platt; Halliday, Gillead, Smallwood, Wright; Pointon, Kavanagh; Cook

We say: Barrow 1-2 Bradford City
The two sides are experiencing contrasting spells of form, and with Bradford full of confidence following a run of four wins in five matches, we think they will do enough to claim all three points in Tuesday’s contest.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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