Bradford City Riding High in League One Promotion Hunt

Graham Alexander's squad has been bolstered by key January signings as they aim to return to the Championship.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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Bradford City are currently sitting fourth in the League One table, just three places and 10 points behind this weekend's opponents Reading. The Bantams earned promotion from League Two last season and have carried that momentum into the current campaign, though their recent form has been mixed with three wins and two losses in their last five games. Bradford will be looking to bounce back from a midweek defeat when they travel to the Madejski Stadium to take on the Royals.

Why it matters

Bradford's promotion push is an intriguing storyline in the League One season, as the club looks to return to the Championship for the first time since 2019. Their strong start has put them in contention for automatic promotion, but they'll need to improve their away form to solidify their position in the top six. A win over Reading would be a significant result in their bid to reach the second tier.

The details

Bradford made seven new signings in January to bolster their squad for the promotion run-in, including permanent deals for midfielder Luke Evans and striker Kayden Jackson. They also brought in several loan players, including Newcastle United youngsters Harrison Ashby and Joe White. Key man Antoni Sarcevic has been in fine form, scoring eight goals from midfield this season, while 22-year-old Bobby Pointon has also impressed with eight goals of his own.

  • Bradford City were promoted to League One last season, ending their six-year stay in the fourth tier.
  • The two sides faced each other back in December, with Bradford picking up a 2-0 win at Valley Parade.

The players

Graham Alexander

The 54-year-old Scottish manager joined Bradford in 2023 and guided the club to promotion back to League One last season. He has previous experience managing Fleetwood Town, Scunthorpe United, Salford City, and Motherwell.

Antoni Sarcevic

The 33-year-old midfielder joined Bradford in 2024 on a free transfer after leaving Stockport County. He has scored 15 goals in 57 appearances for the Bantams and is a key part of their promotion push.

Bobby Pointon

The 22-year-old attacking midfielder is a product of the Bradford youth system and has made over 100 appearances for the club. He is the Bantams' joint-top scorer this season with eight goals.

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What they’re saying

“We must keep our focus and continue to work hard if we want to achieve our goal of promotion this season.”

— Graham Alexander, Manager (Bradford City FC)

What’s next

Bradford City will be looking to bounce back from their midweek defeat when they travel to face Reading at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.

The takeaway

Bradford City's strong start to the season has put them in contention for automatic promotion, but they'll need to improve their away form to solidify their place in the top six. The January signings have bolstered their squad, and manager Graham Alexander will be hoping his team can maintain their push for a return to the Championship.