Bradford City host Peterborough United at Valley Parade on Tuesday, 27 October, in the fourth round of the EFL Cup, officially known as the Carabao Cup. Kick-off is set for 7:45pm UK time, with a spot in the quarter-finals on the line for the winners.
Although both clubs compete in League One, they come into the tie in very different form. Bradford are riding a strong unbeaten run, whereas Peterborough have struggled to pick up league points and must cope with several injury doubts alongside a suspension for their top cup goalscorer, Harry Leonard.
Bradford City team news
Bradford boss Michael Duff has a handful of injury issues to weigh up in attack and at wing-back before picking his team.
Striker Stephen Humphrys remains a doubt after sitting out the 0-0 draw with Oxford United on 24 October due to a back issue. He first suffered a back spasm during an earlier goalless draw away at Burton Albion and has not yet been cleared to face Peterborough, which could limit Duff’s forward options.
On the flanks, wing-back Josh Neufville is expected to remain sidelined as he works his way back from a hamstring injury. He was recently reported to be roughly two weeks away from fitness. Tyreik Wright is also unavailable because of a quad problem. According to a Yorkshire Post report, Wright is not expected to play again in 2026, leaving the home side short of two attacking wing-backs.
If Duff chooses to freshen up his starting side for the cup tie, Adam Phillips and Jake Beesley are both in contention to step in. Sports Mole named both players in its predicted Bradford starting lineup for the match. Even with those injury absences, Bradford enter the game in strong shape at Valley Parade, having recorded four straight clean sheets under Duff as part of an 11-match unbeaten run across all competitions.
Peterborough United team news
Peterborough must play without Harry Leonard, who is suspended after picking up yellow cards in earlier rounds of the tournament. His absence is a major blow for the visitors, as his four goals make him the leading scorer in the Carabao Cup heading into the fourth round. Danny Ormerod is tipped to lead the line in Leonard’s place after netting twice against Barnsley in the previous round.
The visitors also face fitness doubts at the heart of their back line. Centre-back Lucca Mendonca picked up an ankle knock during the 1-1 draw with Bromley, missed Monday’s open training session, and was scheduled for a Tuesday morning fitness check.
Meanwhile, Tom O’Connor returned from a six-week injury layoff in that same match against Bromley, but he felt discomfort during the game and is considered unlikely to start two matches in such a short span. Should both Mendonca and O’Connor miss out, David Okagbue is expected to step into central defence.
There is more encouraging news for Peterborough regarding Matthew Garbett and Josh Feeney, who are both expected to be ready for selection. Matt Garbett sat out the Bromley fixture after taking a knee knock against Huddersfield Town, but he came through Monday’s training session without any issues. Feeney was given a rest over the weekend following a busy run of fixtures and is set to return to the squad.
Elsewhere, Rio Adebisi, Ben Woods, and Sam Hughes remain listed as out injured in the latest match preview. Peterborough are looking to bounce back from a three-game winless run in League One, having drawn against Burton Albion and Bromley on either side of a heavy 4-1 loss to Huddersfield Town. However, their cup form has been much brighter, with wins over Bristol Rovers and Watford followed by a penalty shootout victory against Barnsley.
Predicted lineups
The lineups below are predictions based on the latest reported team news rather than confirmed starting XIs, as neither club had announced its official team when this preview was prepared.
Bradford City predicted lineup, 3-4-2-1: McCracken, Pennington, Baldwin, Pratt, O’Keeffe, Sarcevic, Connolly, Touray, Lapslie, Phillips, Beesley
Peterborough United predicted lineup, 4-2-3-1: Bass, Johnston, Okagbue, Feeney, Mills, Kelly, Garbett, Shofowoke, Williams, Edwards, Ormerod.
Bradford’s final attacking setup could depend on whether Humphrys recovers in time to feature, while Peterborough’s back four hinges on how Mendonca responds to his Tuesday morning assessment. Up front for the visitors, Ormerod’s projected start is a key tactical shift as they try to replace Leonard’s output in this competition.
Final note
Bradford have a chance to build on their unbeaten momentum and reach the last eight of the Carabao Cup for the first time since their memorable run to the final in the 2012-13 campaign. Their recent run of clean sheets gives them a reliable foundation, even if a potential absence for Humphrys reduces their depth in the final third.
Peterborough have already proven their ability to find the net in the cup this term, though manager Robbie Savage has tough selection calls to make with Leonard suspended and both Mendonca and O’Connor doubtful at the back. The expected availability of Garbett and Feeney will give the visitors a welcome boost, and Ormerod has a clear chance to make his mark after his third-round double. Supporters will be watching the pre-match team sheets closely to see how Peterborough line up in defence before kick-off.
