Preview:Doncaster Rovers vs Bradford City - prediction, team news, lineups

Separated by just one point in the top six of the League One table, Doncaster Rovers and Bradford City will do battle at the Eco-Power Stadium on Saturday.

The two Yorkshire sides have both enjoyed fine starts to the campaign in England's third tier after winning promotion from League Two last time around and picked up victories last weekend.

Match preview

Doncaster Rovers head into the weekend in search of a third straight victory in what has been an impressive return to League One thus far.

After winning the League Two title last time around, they currently sit fifth in England's third tier having earned 13 points from their first six outings, winning four and only losing one of those.

That solitary defeat came away at Huddersfield Town in mid-August, and Grant McCann's men have since recorded four consecutive victories in all competitions including a pair of 1-0 league triumphs, most recently seeing off Rotherham United in a home Yorkshire derby last weekend thanks to Owen Bailey's first-half goal.

Everton Under-21s then visited the Eco-Power Stadium on Tuesday for an EFL Trophy contest, and Rovers made it four wins on the bounce in dramatic fashion, having led through Brandon Hanlan and been pegged back in the 92nd minute, only to retake the lead through Joe Sbarra deep into injury time.

With confidence growing having built on their promotion in style, Doncaster Rovers will bid to extend their winning streak on Saturday and continue a home unbeaten run dating back to February with a fifth league victory of the campaign on Saturday.

They face a tough test, though, with the visitors having also continued their climb in style after winning promotion to the third tier.

Bradford City sealed an automatic climb to League One on the final day of the 2024-25 season and adapted seamlessly since, going unbeaten and amassing 14 points from their first six games.

On the back of impressive 2-1 wins over promotion-chasers Luton Town and Stockport County, the Bantams dropped points for just the second time this term in a draw with Peterborough United, and they quickly bounced back last weekend, hosting AFC Wimbledon and coming from behind to win 3-2 thanks to goals from Joe Wright, Bobby Pointon and Will Swan.

Graham Alexander's men were then also in EFL Trophy action in midweek at home to Grimsby Town and again enjoyed a comeback victory, having fallen behind on the stroke of half time and won 2-1 thanks to an Andy Cook brace, with the winner coming in the 95th minute.

Bradford City now head to Doncaster with the hopes of keeping one of League One's two remaining unbeaten records intact and with a chance to move to the summit of the division with another three-point haul.

Doncaster Rovers League One form:

WWDLWW

Doncaster Rovers form (all competitions):

DLWWWW

Bradford City League One form:

WDWWDW

Bradford City form (all competitions):

WWDWWW

Team News

Doncaster Rovers will remain without midfielder Robbie Gotts through injury, while star winger Luke Molyneux has also missed their last two outings and may be absent at the weekend.

Grant McCann may revert to the starting XI from last week's 1-0 win over Rotherham United, with Jordan Gibson having taken Molyneux's place alongside Harry Clifton and Glenn Middleton in support of veteran front man Billy Sharp.

Elsewhere, captain Owen Bailey remains a key man in the engine room, having scored four goals in six League One games so far this term, while Matty Pearson will again join Connor O'Riordan at the back.

Bradford City are again unable to call on Neill Byrne, Lewis Richards, Calum Kavanagh and Matthew Pennington, all of whom are confined to the treatment room.

Talismanic forward Andy Cook marked his return from a long-term injury with a brace in midweek, moving onto 87 goals in 193 appearances for the Bantams, but he may be eased back in gradually with Stephen Humphrys or Will Swan more likely to lead the line.

Bobby Pointon is a danger man going forward, having already managed three goals in five league appearances this season, while Tommy Leigh and Max Power will both hope to return from the outset in midfield after partnering up in last weekend's win over AFC Wimbledon.

Doncaster Rovers possible starting lineup:

Lo-Tutala; Nixon, Pearson, O'Riordan, Maxwell; Broadbent, Bailey; Middleton, Clifton, Gibson; Sharp

Bradford City possible starting lineup:

Walker; Baldwin, Wright, Tilt; Neufville, Leigh, Power, Touray; Lapslie, Swan, Pointon

We say: Doncaster Rovers 1-1 Bradford City

We cannot quite pick a winner on Saturday between two Yorkshire sides full of confidence and momentum after promotion and fast starts to the campaign, and see a share of the spoils as the most likely outcome at the Eco-Power Stadium.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.