Starting their quest to better last year's run to the semi-finals, Bradford City welcome Newcastle United Under-21s to Northern Commercials Stadium in Tuesday's EFL Trophy contest.
The two sides make up one half of Northern section Group H alongside Rotherham United and Mansfield Town, the former of whom overcame the latter in the group's maiden game.
Match preview
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Never before had Bradford City made it through to the last four of the EFL Trophy before their deep run in 2023-24, which was brought to an excruciating end in a 1-0 loss to Wycombe Wanderers, leaving Graham Alexander out for more this term.
In charge of Tuesday's hosts since last November, the 52-year-old has overseen a respectable start to the 2024-25 campaign, as his side have accrued seven points from an available 12 in League Two action so far, while also losing on penalties in the EFL Cup to Bradford City.
Following 2-1 victories over Milton Keynes Dons and Bromley either side of a goalless stalemate with Salford City, Bradford were subjected to their maiden league loss of the campaign on August 31, where Grimsby Town coincidentally inflicted a 2-1 defeat upon them.
On that occasion, a second-half Olly Sanderson strike was inconsequential owing to first-half efforts from Danny Rose and Jason Dadi Svanthorsson, and Alexander did not bite his tongue at full time, admitting that his players got exactly what they deserved in Grimsby.
Now aiming to make amends in the EFL Trophy, Bradford City have a stellar run of home form on their side for Tuesday's affair, having won four and drawn one of their last five on familiar territory, letting in a mere two goals in the process.
On a weekend where the senior side got one over Tottenham Hotspur yet again, Newcastle's Under-21s bid to leave their mark against more modest opposition in the EFL Trophy, a competition that may fill the Magpies' young prospects with a sense of dread.
Indeed, Tuesday's visitors have been found wanting ever since their inaugural appearance in the tournament in 2017-18, suffering a group-stage exit in six of their previous seven tournaments, the one outlier being a last-16 defeat to none other than Sunderland in 2018-19.
Newcastle's 2023-24 Premier League 2 showing was also on the forgettable side, having finished 22nd in the 26-team division, and under the wing of Neil Winskill this term, their first three games have at least left something to write home about.
After a battling 1-1 draw with Tyne-Wear rivals Sunderland in their opening affair of 2024-25, Newcastle impressively edged out reigning champions Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 in matchweek two, before being beaten by the same scoreline at Derby County on August 30.
Including penalty shootouts - which take place in the group stage if a match ends level - Newcastle Under-21s have embarrassingly lost each of their last 16 games in the EFL Trophy, and the Magpies have to go back to December 2018 for their last win in this feared competition.
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Team News
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Just nine minutes into Bradford's loss to Grimsby, defender Aden Baldwin - a summer signing from Notts County - was taken off with a hamstring injury, which Alexander fears could keep the 27-year-old out of action for a while.
Barnsley loanee Jack Shepherd filled in for the stricken Baldwin for the remainder of that game and is seemingly first in line for promotion from the bench, although Cheick Diabate and Lewis Richards are viable alternatives.
Fulham-owned Sanderson has surely put himself in line for a start thanks to his Grimsby goal too - albeit an inconsequential one - with Calum Kavanagh potentially dropping out.
In contrast, Newcastle's young Magpies did not pick up any new concerns in the recent loss to Derby, where Jamie Miley - brother of Lewis Miley - started in the engine room before his move to Newport County.
Needing to fill the void left by the 20-year-old's temporary departure, Winskill could call upon James Huntley, and a recall in goal may await 17-year-old Adam Harrison.
However, six troops are away on international duty; Charlie McArthur, Travis Hernes, Johnny Emerson, Cathal Heffernan, Leo Shahar and Trevor Sanusi have all been called up to their respective youth teams.
Bradford City possible starting lineup:
Doyle; Shepherd, Byrne, Diabate; Halliday, Pattison, Smallwood, Pointon, Walker; Sanderson, Cook
Newcastle United Under-21s possible starting lineup:
Harrison; Shahar, Powell, Thompson, Murphy; Munda, Huntley, Turner-Cooke; Harrison, Parkinson, Palmer
We say: Bradford City 2-0 Newcastle United Under-21s
For the best part of six years, the EFL Trophy has served to deplete the confidence of Newcastle United's Under-21s, whose young prospects should follow in the footsteps of their predecessors.
Bradford City possess the formula for success on their own patch, and we can only see Tuesday's game going the way of Alexander's side.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ben Knapton
