Bradford City face Colchester United in a top of the table clash in League Two on Saturday.
League Two
Our 3 Predictions For Bradford City vs Colchester United
- 1st Prediction: Colchester United to win 5/2
- 2nd Prediction: Under 1.5 goals 5/4
- 3rd Prediction: Jack Payne to score at any time 9/2
Odds are provided by these football betting sites.
1st Prediction For Bradford City vs Colchester United: Colchester United to win 5/2
Bradford City and Colchester United have been two of the most in-form teams in the country since the turn of the year, but the Bantams’ form has slightly tailed off in the last couple of games. Despite this, the bookmakers still see them as the favourites going into Saturday’s game, meaning those willing to predict a Colchester win could be handsomely rewarded. Graham Alexander’s men have won three of their last five games which puts them in second place in the form guide. But, these two losses have come in their last two games against Tranmere Rovers and Gillingham FC, sides which the Bantams would have expected to beat, and they did not score in either of these matches. The team above Bradford in the form table are Colchester United, the U’s have been riding the crest of a wave since mid-January and they look as strong as ever at the moment. Danny Cowley’s men have won all of their last five games, scoring eight times and conceding just once, making them by far the most in-form team in the league. This momentum should be enough to carry Cowley’s side through a tough test against the team with the best home record in the fourth division.
2nd Prediction For Bradford City vs Colchester United: Under 1.5 goals 5/4
Those who are more hesitant about predicting Bradford City to lose when they have only lost twice at home all season should consider predicting under 1.5 goals as it does not rely on either team winning and both sides have excellent defences. Bradford and Colchester have conceded the second and third fewest goals respectively in League Two this season. The hosts concede just 0.8 goals per game on average and they have conceded just 35.3 xG against this campaign, the sixth-best record of any League Two side. Their defensive unit has a good mixture of experience, provided by the likes of Sam Walker and Bradley Halliday, and athleticism, offered by Omotayo Adaramola. As for Colchester, they have conceded just five goals since mid-January and kept a staggering 17 clean sheets, the second most of any team in League Two. Their underlying defensive numbers are also good as they have conceded just 35.1 xG, giving them a slightly better defensive record than Bradford in that respect. With two notoriously tight defences facing each other on Saturday, it likely means that the game will not be filled with goals.
3rd Prediction For Bradford City vs Colchester United: Jack Payne to score at any time 9/2
The in-form player in front of goal heading into Saturday’s game is diminutive attacking midfielder Jack Payne. Payne is retuning to Valley Parade, where he scored nine times and made seven assists in 49 games, in the midst of one his best runs of form of the season. The 30-year-old has scored two times, including the only goal in a one-nil victory over MK Dons, and provided one assist in his last five games to take his total for the season to eight goals and 10 assists. Three of Payne’s league goals this season may have been penalties, but Bradford have conceded five penalties in the league this season, the fifth most of any team. Additionally, he has more non-penalty xG than 94% of other attacking midfielders in League Two and he averages more shots on target than 97% of players in his position. Despite his importance to Colchester United’s attack, the bookmakers are offering very fruitful odds on predicting Payne to score.
Best Odds For Bradford City vs Colchester United
| Bookmaker | Bradford City | Draw | Colchester United |
| 10Bet | 23/20 | 2/1 | 11/4 |
| Cosmobet | 11/10 | 37/20 | 13/5 |
| Myriadplay | 1/1 | 19/10 | 5/2 |
Full Preview Of The Game: Last Results And Head-To-Head
Bradford City head into Saturday’s game sitting in second place in League Two with 66 points from 37 games. They are just three points away from bridging what looked to be an unassailable gap to league-leaders Walsall FC, but they have lost their last two games without scoring a goal. Graham Alexander will know that those two games need to be a temporary blip if the Bantams are going to secure the League Two title. Bradford have the best home record in League Two and they will be hoping to continue this record at Valley Parade on Saturday.
Colchester United have been completely revitalised by Danny Cowley in the last couple of months, both on and off the pitch. The U’s are by far the most in form side in League Two as they have won their last five games, conceding just one goal in the process. Victory against Fleetwood Town last week saw them move into the playoff places for the first time this season, but the U’s are just five points off an automatic promotion spot. Cowley will be hoping that his side can continue their recent good form against Bradford and so that that his side can sneak into the final automatic promotion spot.
Most of the encounters between the two sides have ended in a draw, which is exactly what happened when the sides met earlier in the season. Although Colchester United had twice as many shots as Bradford, it took a 99th-minute equaliser from Jamie McDonnell to salvage a point for the U’s.
Confrontation22/03/2025 League Two League Two 
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Colchester United 4 1 16/11/2024 League Two League Two
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Where To Watch Bradford City vs Colchester United
Where can I watch the game, either on TV or in-person?
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- Location: Valley Parade, Bradford
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- Date: March 22nd 2025
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- TV Channel: N/A
Probable Lineups For Bradford City vs Colchester United
What sort of side will each manager put out ahead of this clash?
Predicted Bradford City Lineup
- Lineup: S. Walker, N. Byrne, A. Baldwin, J. Sheperd, B. Halliday, B. Khela, R. Smallwood, T. Adaramola, J. Walker, G. Lapslie, M. Mellon
- Injured/Suspended: A. Sarcevic, A. Cook, B. Pointon (both injured)
- Manager: Graham Alexander
Predicted Colchester United Lineup
- Lineup: M. Macey, M. Egbo, F. Kelleher, T. Flannagan, R. Hunt, A. Read, E. Iandolo, H. Anderson, J. Payne, O. Edwards, L. Taylor
- Suspended/Injured: N/A
- Coach: D. Cowley
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