Bradford City vs Carlisle United verdict, predicted score, key stats and suggested bets

Befitting their league positions, Bradford and Carlisle are evenly matched, so expect a tight game.

League Two play-offs semi-final first leg, Sunday May 14, Kick-off 7pm, live on Sky Sports

Bradford City to beat Carlisle

Bradford vs Carlisle under 2.5 goals

Andy Cook to score anytime

Bradford lost just four of their 23 home games in League Two.

The last time the two teams met in March the game ended 0-0.

The last time Bradford kept a clean sheet at home was against Carlisle.

Both teams have scored in Bradford's last four games.

Carlisle won just one of their last six League Two games.

Carlisle lost just six of their 23 away games in League Two.

Bradford could be unchanged from the final-day draw with Leyton Orient. Adam Clayton returned from injury to start in midfield alongside Richie Smallwood and Alex Gilliead in a three-man midfield. Golden Boot winner Andy Cook will start in attack with Jamie Walker and Scott Banks their other attacking threats.

Carlisle will be without the injured Morgan Feeney, while Jon Mellish is suspended.

Sixth against fifth meet in the play-off semi-final on Sunday with hosts Bradford desperate to reward their magnificent home support.

Over 22,500 watched their final-day draw with champions Orient, which secured their play-off berth and another bumper crowd is expected in West Yorkshire.

Carlisle will be backed by over 2,000 fans and they will be hoping to snap a poor run of form which saw them win just once in their final six games. They have kept three clean sheets in that time though and managed a goalless draw with the Bantams in March.

The reverse fixture at Brunton Park on Boxing Day saw the Cumbrians win 1-0 in a performance which Bantams boss Hughes rates as one of the worst of the season. Both games were tight and expect another close-run encounter on Sunday night.

Bradford got the job done against Orient in their final game, but in truth the Os were more than hospitable despite taking the lead. The Bantams hit back quickly through Brad Halliday's first goal of the season and it was pretty uneventful from there on in as both teams took a point.

Bradford surprisingly have gained more of their points (39) away from home, as opposed to the 37 points gained at home. They have only lost once at home in 2023 though, but too many draws hindered their hopes of automatic promotion.

Hughes has moulded a pragmatic side, despite having the division's top scorer (28) Andy Cook. The Bantams do have attacking talent in the form of Crystal Palace loanee Banks and No 10 Walker and they are capable of clicking into gear and causing havoc. Despite this, the hosts have not really impressed at home since beating Sutton 3-1 at the start of April.

Carlisle also possess a 20-goal striker in Kristian Dennis and their two former Bantams, Omari Patrick and Jordan Gibson, the latter of whom clattered the post at Valley Parade late on in March, will take great pride in sinking their former employers.

The Cumbrians also have midfield dynamo Owen Moxon in their ranks and Lewis Guy will partner him and provide significant drive from midfield. Bradford will need to combat Carlisle's energetic midfield and look to get the experienced heads of Adam Clayton and Richie Smallwood in control of the game.

It could be a game of few chances and both teams will look to their top scorers to get them in front before next Saturday's second leg in Cumbria.

Dennis has only scored three in his last 17 games though, while Bradford's Cook, who failed to score last time out, has only gone more than two games without scoring once since January.

It will come down to who can take their chances when they come along and Cook has been the king in League Two all season.