Bradford City’s Promotion Dream in the Balance as Mixed Form Continues
Bradford, UK — After a promising start to the 2025-26 League One campaign, Bradford City AFC find themselves at a pivotal moment in their season — balancing promotion hopes with growing inconsistencies on the pitch.
Recent Results Paint a Mixed Picture
The Bantams sit in 5th place in League One heading into mid-February, a position that keeps them firmly in the promotion mix — but recent results highlight a troubling dip in form. According to league records, Bradford have collected only two league wins from their last five matches, balanced against several narrow defeats.
31 January: 1-0 home win vs Doncaster Rovers — a boost that briefly steadied the ship.
24–27 January: Back-to-back losses at Huddersfield Town (1-0) and heavily at Lincoln City (3-0), showing defensive struggles.
7 February: 2-1 loss at Luton Town — despite a late Stephen Humphrys goal, City fell short.
This run of form illustrates a team capable of grinding out results, but also one that has dropped points in winnable contests — a combination that could prove costly in a tightly packed promotion race.
Inconsistency at the Heart of the Debate
City’s campaign has been defined by stark performance contrasts. They have shown resilience — especially at home — but their ability to score and defend consistently has wavered. Recent fixtures highlight the challenge:
A strong 2-1 win away earlier in the season against Blackpool hinted at attacking promise, but was followed by narrow defeats in tight games.
While Bradford remain in the play-off places, their goal models and results trends suggest a team hovering between confidence and vulnerability — particularly against higher-placed sides.
Squad and January Window Changes
The January transfer window brought some squad turnover, with Bradford adjusting to the departure and arrival of players as they target a full-season push. News sources highlighted that these transitions have required tactical adjustments and may have impacted squad cohesion.
What’s Next for the Bantams?
Looking ahead, Bradford’s schedule includes a mix of home and away games that could define their season:
14 Feb: Home vs Peterborough United
17 Feb: Home vs Stockport County
21 Feb: Away at AFC Wimbledon
24 Feb: Home vs Rotherham United
With only a handful of games separating automatic promotion from the play-offs, City’s ability to bounce back from recent setbacks will be crucial. A strong run in these coming fixtures could reignite their challenge; further inconsistency might consign them to the uncertainty of the play-offs.
Manager and Fan Reactions
Supporters and pundits alike have flagged the struggle to maintain intensity and clinical edge. Behind the scenes, there’s a sense that Bradford’s blend of youth and experience can deliver results — but only if they tighten up at both ends of the pitch.
Summary: Bradford City’s campaign remains alive and competitive — but inconsistency threatens to derail automatic promotion ambitions. With key games ahead and the team just inside the top play-off positions, this will be a defining stretch for Graham Alexander’s squad.
