- 1 Bradford City vs Burnley : three clean sheets against six goals conceded
- 2 Bradford City : a watertight defence and a packed schedule
- 3 Burnley : a tough start in England for Nicky Hayen
- 4 Football Prediction Bradford City vs Burnley
- 5 First, a word on our free predictions
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information changes
- 8 Your role
- 9 Responsible gambling first
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About the images…
Bradford City vs Burnley : three clean sheets against six goals conceded 
Bradford City have not shipped a single goal in their first three matches of the season. Over that same stretch, Burnley have let in six.
That statistical gap sets the stage for the EFL Cup second round on Wednesday 26 August at Valley Parade, with kick-off at 19:45 local time in Britain. The League One side host a Championship club that has just come down from the Premier League.
The two clubs came through the first round in very different fashion. Bradford beat Rochdale 2-0, while Burnley needed penalties to get past Notts County at Turf Moor.
Ticket prices explain the expected turnout: seats went for 5 pounds and 13,000 have already been snapped up by Bantams fans. Valley Parade should be rocking.
Historically, these sides have not met in a competitive fixture since the 2003-2004 season, when Burnley won 2-1 at Valley Parade in the second tier.
So it is a confident, stubborn defence against a side still trying to find its feet under a manager who arrived this summer. That is where this match is likely to be decided.
Bradford City : a watertight defence and a packed schedule 
Three matches, three wins, zero goals conceded. Graham Alexander could hardly have asked for a sharper start.
After beating Rochdale in the cup, the Bantams saw off Peterborough United 2-0 and then won 1-0 at Sheffield Wednesday. Two League One opponents, including a promoted side with ambition, were brushed aside without giving up a single converted chance.
The only concern is at the other end: five goals in those three games is modest for a team with promotion hopes. At the moment, solidity is covering for a lack of cutting edge.
Alexander is likely to keep changes to a minimum, with his side having last played on Thursday. Henry Cartwright and Adam Phillips are expected in midfield, while Will Swan may get the nod over Jake Beesley up front.
Nick Powell, who has caught the eye since the restart, is likely to start on the bench. The staff are also keeping one eye on the trip to Plymouth Argyle later in the week.
Bradford’s edge comes from the mix: a deep block that is not breaking down, a crowd of 13,000, and an opponent who have not won away from home since February.
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Burnley : a tough start in England for Nicky Hayen 
One point from Burnley’s first two Championship games is the return since the restart. The fixture list has not exactly been kind, with West Ham United followed by West Bromwich Albion.
Against the Hammers, Burnley battled back to snatch a 2-2 draw with two late equalizers. It was encouraging for spirit, far less so for defensive shape.
The trip to The Hawthorns was supposed to be the fix. Callum Styles’ early own goal put Burnley in front, but West Brom turned it around to win 3-1.
That defeat extends an ugly run: Burnley have not won a competitive away game since 11 February and their victory at Crystal Palace. Six goals conceded in three matches tells its own story.
Nicky Hayen is still expected to field a strong side. Ugo Raghouber, Zeki Amdouni and Chelsea loanee Dastan Satpaev are set to start, with Anel Ahmedhodzic making his debut alongside Joe Worrall at centre-back.
Lucas Pires and Mike Tresor would patrol the left side. The staff still need to make a call on Connor Roberts, who returned from a fitness issue to play 45 minutes against West Brom.
The key point is straightforward: Burnley have the stronger squad on paper, but they arrive with little defensive rhythm against a team that simply is not conceding.
Probable Bradford City line-up : Dawson ; Pennington, Baldwin, Gillesphey ; Neufville, Cartwright, Phillips, Touray ; Lapslie, Pointon ; Swan
Probable Burnley line-up : Coudert ; Sonne, Ahmedhodzic, Worrall, Pires ; Laurent, Raghouber ; Amdouni, Ramsey, Tresor ; Satpaev
Football Prediction Bradford City vs Burnley
Our prediction : Burnley to win
Hayen needs a first victory and has made it clear he wants a competitive team rather than a second-string XI. Amdouni, Tresor and Satpaev on the same team sheet is a level League One rarely sees.
Bradford defend well but barely score: five goals in three games, two of them against Rochdale. In a one-off match, that lack of bite can be punished by an opponent capable of creating chances in the final third.
We are backing Burnley, even in a tight contest that could be settled in the final 15 minutes. The price still looks fair given the Clarets’ form.
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