Preview: Stoke City vs Bradford City – prediction, team news, lineups KIK BALL

A spot in the third round of the EFL Cup will be up for grabs as Stoke City welcome Bradford City to the bet365 Stadium this Tuesday night.

The Potters side have won all four of their competitive games this season, while the Bantams have made a similarly impressive start to their League One campaign.

Match preview

Stoke City have been one of the most impressive teams in the Championship during these opening weeks of the season, but even they needed penalties to get through Walsall in the first round of the EFL Cup.

The Potters, who reached the semi-final of this competition a decade ago, are playing some of their best football in years, leaving fans excited for the season ahead.

Mark Robins and his men kicked off their Championship season with a couple of dominant victories over Derby County and Sheffield Wednesday – scoring three goals in both those fixtures.

Stoke proved those wins were no fluke as they travelled away to the south coast and beat a recently relegated Southampton side 2-1 at St Mary’s. A statement-making result.

Bradford City will be looking to stop the Stoke train in its tracks, with the Bantams looking to capitalise on their own unbeaten start to the season.

Graham Alexander and his men have picked up 11 points from their opening five matches in the league – a run that includes three victories.

Bradford secured wins over Wycombe Wanderers, Luton Town and Stockport County – all of which ended with the same 2-1 scoreline.

The Bantams were minutes away from banking another big win away at Peterborough last Saturday until a late Posh equaliser squashed their ambitions.

Nevertheless, the League One side are flying high and will be looking to cause another upset in the cup, having already dumped out Blackburn Rovers in the first round.

Stoke City EFL Cup form:

W

Stoke City form (all competitions):

W W W W

Bradford City EFL Cup form:

W

Bradford City form (all competitions):

W D W W W D

Team News

Stoke City were at their fearless best at the weekend as they took out Southampton, with the only downside being Divin Mubama’s sending off – one which counts him out of Tuesday’s fixture.

New signing Lamine Cisse was not involved in the match at St Mary’s but could get some minutes in the cup as he looks to make an early mark.

Bradford, meanwhile, are contending with a handful of injury worries ahead of their trip to the bet365 Stadium.

Joe Wright, for instance, missed the game with Peterborough as he continued to follow concussion protocols. The centre-half remains a doubt for Tuesday night.

Neill Byrne remains on the sidelines with a knee injury, and the same goes for Calum Kavanagh, who needs another couple of weeks before making his return.

Andy Cook is another injury doubt, as is Nick Powell, who is coming off an injury-ravaged campaign with Stockport.

Stoke City possible starting lineup: Bonham; Bocat, Wilmot, Phillips, Tchamadeu; Baker, Seko; Thomas, Bae, Cisse; Bozenik

Bradford City possible starting lineup: Walker; Tilt, Baldwin, Pennington; Touray, Power, Pattison, Neufville; Wright, Lapslie; Swan

We say: Stoke City 2-1 Bradford City

Bradford have enjoyed a terrific start to the season, and we are expecting the Yorkshire outfit to put on another strong performance.

However, Stoke are absolutely flying, and we cannot see them losing – especially at home. You know what they say about cold Tuesday nights at Stoke… right?

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

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