Scoreboard pressure for Exeter City ahead of trip to Bradford City

While there have been plenty of positives for Exeter City over the opening third of the season, league tables don’t lie, and the Grecians are just one point and one place above the League One relegation zone.

The cancellation of last week’s scheduled visit from Burton Albion due to safety issues at St James Park gave City boss Gary Caldwell the chance to rest some weary legs, but the return to action is as tough as it gets in the third tier.

Bradford City came flying out of the blocks at the start of the campaign, winning ten from 14 in all competitions, and their home form was particularly impressive. However, City can take encouragement from a recent run that has seen the Bantams fail to win in their previous five league outings.

City’s form, meanwhile, has been much improved of late, with the Devon derby victory over Plymouth Argyle an understandable catalyst, and Caldwell’s men were unlucky to lose at Leyton Orient a fortnight ago, two late goals conceded resulting in a 2-1 defeat.  

The two sides last met at Valley Parade in 2022, when Kieran Phillips scored the only goal for City in a 1-0 League Two success.