League 2 
This Saturday, Valley Parade will be the stage for a clash of contrasting ambitions as Bradford City host league leaders Mansfield Town. The Stags, currently perched atop League Two, arrive in West Yorkshire on the back of an inconsistent run of form, while the Bantams seek a win to reignite their playoff push.
The hosts currently find themselves in 13th position in the League Two table, having gained 50 points from their 36 league outings this season. In what is a very congested table, the Bantams are just five points beneath the playoff places and have games in hand over the teams directly above them.
Bradford come into this weekend on the back of a good run of form which has seen them lose just one of their last seven league outings. This run has included impressive victories over the likes of MK Dons and Accrington Stanley.
However, Graham Alexander’s side were defeated when they were last in action on Tuesday evening. In a worrying display, Bradford were defeated 2-0 by relegation threatened Forest Green thanks to a Christian Doidge brace.
Following an impressive campaign so far, Mansfield Town currently find themselves at the top of the League Two table having collected 69 points from their 36 league games this campaign. Despite being in an enviable position, the Stags are not guaranteed automatic promotion as they are just five points ahead of 4th placed MK Dons.
The Stags come into this game on the back of an inconsistent run of form which has seen them lose three and win three of their last six league outings. Nigel Clough’s side were defeated in disappointing fashion on Tuesday evening as Tranmere beat them 2-1.
The fixture of Bradford vs Mansfield has a long and storied history, with the two sides having first met in 1947 in the Division Three. In total, the two sides have met each other on 71 occasions, with Bradford having the slightly better record having won 28 matches compared to 24 which have been won by Mansfield.
In recent years, it has been Mansfield who have dominated this fixture and they have only been defeated on one occasion in the last seven meetings between the two sides.
The game resulted in a dull draw when these two sides met each other in the reverse fixture earlier on in the campaign. The match had 0-0 pretty much written all over it as neither side were able to create any real serious chances - aside from a Davis Keillor-Dunn strike in the second-half which visiting goalkeeper Harry Lewis had to save.
These sides are very evenly matched at the bookies ahead of this weekend’s match but it is Mansfield who are narrowly favored and are currently priced @ 11/8, whilst a home win for Bradford is priced @ 15/8.
We are backing Davis Keillor-Dunn to score and Mansfield to win because they have dominated this fixture in recent years. Keillor-Dunn has impressed this season and is the Stags top scorer, having scored 18 goals in 37 appearances.