Preview: Bradford City vs. Newport County - prediction, team news, lineups

Seeking to end their four-game wait for a League Two win, Bradford City welcome Newport County to the University of Bradford Stadium on Monday.

While the Bantams have started to slip down the table, Newport have recently posted back-to-back victories, moving up to ninth.

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Match preview

Though Jack Shepherd's late goal saw Bradford salvage a point from Tuesday's trip to Morecambe, their winless streak in League Two was extended.

Following two draws and two defeats - either side of an EFL Trophy success against Mansfield Town - City now occupy 13th place after nine matches, having started the season brightly.

Nonetheless, Graham Alexander's side have not lost a league game on home soil, taking eight points from four games at Valley Parade. Stretching back to last season, Bradford are undefeated in seven - winning five times in the process - and that is their best run for just over a year.

They may be confident of extending that run on Monday, as the Yorkshire club beat Newport County twice last term, winning both games 4-1.

In April, Calum Kavanagh struck first for the Bantams, before Andy Cook, Bobby Pointon and Jamie Walker also got their names on the scoresheet, continuing Bradford's head-to-head dominance: they are unbeaten across the teams' last six league meetings.

Indeed, looking back down the years, Newport have won just one of their last nine away games against Bradford City in the EFL, losing seven times and failing to even score on six separate occasions.

They will travel north this week with hope of turning that trend on its head, though, after following up a recent 2-1 win over Crewe Alexandra by beating Salford City 3-1 last time out.

Kyle Hudlin contributed a goal and an assist to help put the Welsh club 2-0 up, before Michael Spellman made an immediate impact as a substitute, scoring with his first touch after leaving the bench.

Newport head coach Nelson Jardim spoke of his satisfaction, having seen his team move into ninth spot on 15 points, just outside the playoff places.

However, they will now need to address a poor run of results on the road, after posting three losses and just one win away from home in League Two this season.

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Team News

Graham Alexander has resorted to searching the free-agent market of late, as injuries bite into his Bradford City squad, most recently acquiring the services of veteran centre-back Paul Huntington.

The hosts are still short-handed in midfield, as Alex Pattison and Antoni Sarcevic are both sidelined and Joe Adams is set to miss the rest of the season with an ACL injury.

Neill Byrne could return on Monday, though, while Aden Baldwin is back in full training and will be available later this month.

Andy Cook is Bradford's leading scorer with four goals, and Newport captain Aaron Wildig joined him on that tally by finding the net on Tuesday. That already equals his goal count from last season, and Wildig's career-high total of 10 could be a mid-term target.

The visitors will be without Matt Baker, who has been called up by Wales Under-21s, but Ciaran Brennan is now back from suspension.

James Clarke is closing in on return from injury, and the experienced defender may be involved if he passes a fitness test.

Bradford City possible starting lineup: Walker; Halliday, Diabate, Shepherd, Richards; Walker, Smallwood, Pointon, Wright; Kavanagh, Cook

Newport County possible starting lineup: Townsend; Evans, Brennan, Jameson, Driscoll-Glennon; Antwi, Morris; Evans, Wildig, Kamwa; Hudlin

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We say: Bradford City 2-2 Newport County

In League Two this season, no side has faced as many shots as Newport (150), whilst they rank second in terms of shots on target; furthermore, they have the division's third-worst defensive record.

Therefore, Bradford should be able to find the net more than once - but that may not be sufficient to take maximum points.

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