The stage is set at One Call Stadium as Mansfield Town welcome Bradford City for their first official fixture of 2026 in Football League One. With both sides entering the new year on the back of consecutive victories, anticipation is running high for what promises to be a compelling contest. Mansfield Town, currently sitting 11th in the standings with 29 points from 22 games, are eager to extend their winning streak to three matches. But the challenge couldn’t be stiffer: Bradford City, fresh off a remarkable 2025 campaign, are third in the league and just a point shy of the automatic promotion spots.
For the Stags, recent form has been a beacon of hope after a tough stretch. Having endured a six-game winless run, Mansfield bounced back with a thrilling 3-2 triumph over Barnsley, followed by a gritty 1-0 win away to Bolton. These back-to-back away wins marked their first such feat in League One this season. However, the table tells a cautionary tale. While 11th place might sound comfortable, Mansfield are only five games clear of the relegation zone—a single slip could see them tumble dangerously close to trouble.
Manager Nigel Clough has named a likely starting eleven featuring Liam Roberts in goal, a back three of Adedeji Oshilaja, Ryan Sweeney, and Baily Cargill, with wing-backs Luke Bolton and Frazer Blake-Tracy providing width. The midfield engine room looks set to be powered by Louis Reed and Aaron Lewis, flanked by Nathan Moriah-Welsh and Stephen McLaughlin, while Rhys Oates is expected to lead the line. On the bench, options like Evans, Goodman, and Dickov provide depth. Will Evans, the club’s leading scorer with seven goals this season, will be one to watch, whether starting or coming off the bench.
Yet, home form has been a thorn in the side for Mansfield. Their last three league outings at One Call Stadium have all ended in defeat: a 2-1 loss to Stockport County, a 1-0 setback against Bolton, and a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Huddersfield Town. The Stags will be desperate to shake off this home hoodoo as they face one of the division’s most in-form outfits.
On the other side, Bradford City’s resurgence has been nothing short of remarkable. After stumbling through a six-game winless spell between October and November, the Bantams roared back to win five of their next six matches. Their 25 league wins in 2025 included a staggering 19 at home—more than any other team in the Football League or even Europe’s top five divisions. That kind of adaptability and resilience has put them firmly in the promotion conversation.
“If it’s a slug-fest, then it’s a slug-fest and we have to fight, and we have to throw punches and take punches, that’s it. If it’s a game on the deck and everyone’s allowed to play how they want to play, then that’s how it is,” said manager Graham Alexander, capturing the team’s flexible approach. He added, “We’re not up or our own backside about a game of football or talking about what the opponents do, we’ve just got to go out there and compete and I think the fans have seen this team – last season’s team as well – time and time again learn how to win a game of football.”
Alexander, who has overseen significant growth at Valley Parade over the last 12 to 18 months, isn’t letting his squad rest on their laurels. “The development in this team, this club, over the last 12, 15, 18 months at Valley Parade especially has been superb. I told the players the more games you win, the harder it will become because other teams will go, ‘You can’t do that against us!’ We’re just learning to understand that challenges are not easy and to stay focussed and the players are doing that superbly well.”
Bradford’s likely starting lineup sees Sam Walker between the sticks, a back three of Joe Wright, Curtis Tilt, and Ciaran Kelly, with Josh Neufville and Ibou Touray patrolling the flanks. The midfield is anchored by Max Power and Jenson Metcalfe, while Antoni Sarcevic and Tyreik Wright provide attacking impetus out wide. Up front, Stephen Humphrys is expected to lead the line, though fitness concerns linger. Alexander admitted he plans to make “two or three” changes for each game over the festive period, with doubts over Bobby Pointon (foot injury), Aden Baldwin (muscle tightness), and Ciaran Kelly (nose gash) possibly affecting selection.
Bradford’s attacking threat is spearheaded by Bobby Pointon and Antoni Sarcevic, both with seven goals to their names. The Bantams’ last four matches have yielded three wins—1-0 over Port Vale, 2-1 against Wigan, and 2-0 versus Reading—plus a narrow 2-1 defeat at Leyton Orient. Their only recent blemish was that loss, but otherwise, the momentum is firmly with Alexander’s men.
Historically, this fixture has seen plenty of drama. The two sides have locked horns 73 times, with Bradford holding a slight edge: 29 wins to Mansfield’s 25. In their last 10 encounters, Mansfield have managed just three victories, while Bradford have come out on top five times. Their most recent meeting was in September 2025, when Bradford cruised to a 3-0 win at Mansfield in the Vertu Trophy—Vadaine Oliver among the scorers that day.
As for the match officials, Ross Joyce from Middlesbrough will take charge. Joyce is no stranger to drama himself, having sent off Aden Baldwin at half-time in a previous League Two fixture involving City. The odds reflect the tight nature of this contest: Mansfield are 9/4 to win, Bradford 6/5, and the draw priced at 11/5.
With both teams having won their last two League One matches, something has to give. Mansfield are desperate to end their home losing streak, while Bradford are eager to keep the promotion chase alive. Yet, the stats suggest a draw could be on the cards—recent meetings have rarely ended all square, but both sides’ form hints at a closely fought battle. The consensus prediction? A 1-1 draw, with under 2.5 goals and both teams getting on the scoresheet.
As the teams prepare to take to the pitch, the question remains: who will seize the initiative in this pivotal New Year’s Day clash? With so much at stake for both sides, fans can expect a tense, hard-fought encounter at One Call Stadium. Regardless of the outcome, this fixture is poised to set the tone for what could be a defining stretch in the League One season.
