It's one of the biggest games of the season for Bradford City and Mansfield Town in this weekend in League Two as the two playoff hopefuls clash at Valley Parade with just one place in the table separating these two.
Ahead of the game, it's Bradford who have ground to make up after a tough start to 2023. Mark Hughes' men did manage to get a fantastic 3-2 win at Valley Parade over fellow playoff challengers Salford City, but they then went on to lose to last-placed Rochdale at home before two goalless draws on the road against Wimbledon and Stockport County.
Now back at home, this is set to be one of the most important games of Hughes's term as Bradford's manager. The Welshman sees his side one point behind sixth-placed Swindon Two and Mansfield in seventh, but his side do have a game in hand on both of those teams. Bradford also have the best defensive record after Tranmere Rovers and Walsall for those sitting outside of the top two with just 25 goals conceded.
As for Mansfield, they head into this game off the back of a fantastic 4-1 win over Doncaster Rovers that saw Nigel Clough's men finally return to the win column. Previous to this, Clough's side went on a three-game winless run after Walsall beat them on New Year's Day, with Barrow then beating them at Field Mill. Mansfield also drew with Crewe Alexandra not too long ago.
Mansfield are in the top seven by one point right now and they are also behind Swindon on just goals difference right now. Mansfield have still managed to secure 12 wins, but with them also losing nine times, no side in the top eight have lost more.
It's no surprise that the odds in this one are so close, as Bradford sit at 8/5 to win this match and Mansfield sit at 17/10. It could be quite low-scoring as a result and Bradford to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 sits at 5/2 in this game and 9/1 for Bradford to win 3-0, 3-1 or 3-2. Mansfield to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 sits at 11/4 and Mansfield to win 3-0, 3-1 or 3-2 is up at 10/1.
