Mansfield Town vs Bradford City Prediction and Betting Tips | 1st January 2026

Mansfield Town host Bradford City for their first official game of 2026 in the Football League One, aiming to extend their winning run in the competition to three games. After going six games without a win, the Stags recovered to beat Barnsley 3-2 before a 1-0 win away from home against Bolton for back-to-back triumphs on the road, a first for the club in the league this season.

They are now up to 11th place on the League One table with 29 points from 22 games, which looks good on paper, but technically, Mansfield are still only five games away from the bottom three, which means one more defeat can see them plunge to almost the relegation zone.

Bradford, though, are up in third and contesting for the promotion spots. They are only a point behind second-placed Lincoln City and four behind leaders Cardiff City. If their current run continues, the Bantams might well barge inside the top two as the side aim for a direct promotion to the Championship.

After going six games without a win between October and November, Bradford won five of their next six to spark an incredible turnaround and reassert their promotion credentials.

Mansfield Town vs Bradford City Head-To-Head and Key Numbers

• There have been 73 clashes between the sides in the past, with Mansfield Town winning 25 times over Bradford City and losing on 29 occasions.
• The Stags have won just thrice from their last 10 meetings with Mansfield Town, who beat them five times during this spell.
• Mansfield Town and Bradford City meet for the first time since September 2024, when the sides met in the Football League Trophy.
• Both sides have won their last two League One matches.
• Mansfield Town have lost their last three league matches at home: 2-1 vs Stockport County, 1-0 vs Bolton Wanderers and 3-1 vs Huddersfield Town.
• The Bantams have won just once in their last League One meetings.

Mansfield Town vs Bradford City Prediction

Interestingly, Mansfield Town are struggling at home, and Bradford City are struggling on the road, as the stats mentioned above reflect.

Although there have been very few draws between these sides in recent times, this one could end in a stalemate.

Prediction: Mansfield Town 1-1 Bradford City

Mansfield Town vs Bradford City Betting Tips

Tip 1 - Result: Draw

Tip 2 - Goals over/under 2.5: Under 2.5 goals

Tip 3 - Both teams to score: Yes

Edited by Peter P