PARAMOUNT FIXTURE AT BRADFORD

ccfcinsider
Jan 16
3 min read

Cardiff City remain on the road as they travel to Valley Parade to face Graham Alexander's Bradford City in a paramount fixture at the top of League One.

The Opposition:

Bradford have been one of the surprise packages of League One this season, as they sit firmly in the automatic promotion hunt alongside Cardiff City after the half way point in the season.

Alexander emphasizes an aggressive, high-press style with a 3-4-2-1 formation, focusing on winning the ball high up the pitch to trigger quick transitions into dangerous attacking areas. While preferring this shape, he adapts the team's progression, sometimes moving the ball down the left more than the right, and utilizes a fluid midfield with a combative holding player, a box-to-box midfielder, and a creative force. His approach prioritizes an immediate, direct forward momentum from turnovers rather than prolonged possession.

The Bantams sit third ahead of this one, and could move second with a victory in this one.

The Bluebirds:

Cardiff come into this one on the back of a 1-1 draw at Leyton Orient. Dom Ballard made the most of a Nathan Trott mistake to give Orient the lead, but a Yousef Salech solo goal earnt City a point.

City could disrupt Bradford by using quick, possession-based play to pull apart their rigid, direct structure and exploit the spaces left when Alexander’s sides press aggressively.

Opposition Player to Watch:

Josh Neufville was impressive in the reverse fixture, netting a goal. The wingback has been a key player for Bradford since his summer move from AFC Wimbledon. Neufville’s game is defined by explosive speed and relentless pressure on the wings, using direct dribbling and high work rate to stretch defences and create chances.

Luton is where things started for Neufville as a striker. Loan moves Solihull Moors, Woking, Yeovil Town and Sutton United followed before a permanent move to AFC Wimbledon in 2023. Neufville was moved to a wingback at The Dons, where he excelled, earning himself a move to Bradford in the summer of 2025. The 24 year-old has three goals and three assists so far this season.

Last Meeting:

Cardiff City 1-3 Bradford City (2025)

Cardiff's first defeat of the Brian Barry-Murphy reign and of the season came in the reverse fixture, where The Bantams ran out comfortable winners at the CCS.

Tommy Leigh gave Bradford the lead with an excellently hit strike from the edge of the box. Antoni Sarcevic doubled The Bantams' lead, smashing home a penalty, before Josh Neufville added a third at the start of the second half. Callum Robinson got a late consolation in a difficult afternoon for The Bluebirds.

Team News:

Cardiff City - Omari Kellyman likely to miss out. Late decisions to be made on Calum Chambers and Ronan Kpakio. Rubin Colwill and Eli King remain out injured.

Bradford City - Bobby Pointon and Matthew Pennington could return for the hosts. Nick Powell out for the hosts.

Preferred XI:

GK - Nathan Trott

RB - Perry Ng

RCB - Gabriel Osho

LCB - Dylan Lawlor

LB - Joel Bagan

CDM - Ryan Wintle

CM - Alex Robertson

CAM - Chris Willock

RW - Ollie Tanner

LW - Cian Ashford