Match context and form guide
Bradford City welcome Stockport County to the University of Bradford Stadium on 17/02/2026 in what shapes up as a high-stakes clash in Round 33 of League One. On paper this is a tight affair: Bradford sit fifth with 52 points while Stockport are just above them in fourth on 53. The referee for the night is Ross Joyce and the fixture carries added weight after an August meeting in which Bradford edged Stockport 2-1 on the road. Home advantage will matter — Valley Parade’s capacity and atmosphere have helped Bradford grind out results — but recent form gives the visitors real momentum.
Bradford arrive off a morale-boosting 2-0 home win over Peterborough United where Bobby Pointon earned plaudits as the match’s standout performer. Their league record shows a team that can be solid at home: 24 goals scored on home soil and only 12 conceded, backed up by 10 clean sheets. Yet their recent sequence is jagged — a mixture of wins and losses that points to inconsistency across the last ten matches.
Stockport County, by contrast, arrive in rhythm. Their run includes convincing wins, capped by a 4-0 triumph over Port Vale in the EFL Trophy where A. Sidibeh grabbed the best-player billing. Stockport’s away output is healthy — 20 goals scored on the road and a generally stable record reflected in six wins, three draws and a single loss in their last ten. That steadiness has nudged them into the promotion conversation and suggests they’ll be confident coming to Bradford.
Tactical implications and statistical trends
Defensively Bradford look sturdier at home than on their travels — conceding just 12 at Valley Parade suggests they can frustrate opponents. Stockport’s away goals tally shows they can break teams down, but their away goals conceded (16) indicates they’re not immune to being contained. Both teams produce matches that see more than 2.5 goals slightly more than half the time (Bradford 56.7%, Stockport 53.3%), yet both teams also register a moderate share of clean sheets, so a tight contest is likelier than a goal-fest.
Bookmakers have priced the tie as a coin-flip for either side with identical 2.62 on the home and away win and a 3.30 for the draw — a market that reflects the narrow margins between these sides. Given Stockport’s current consistency and attacking confidence away from home, they carry a tangible edge in this matchup.
Betting suggestion
After weighing form, recent results and the numbers, the best single-market play is a 1X2 back on Stockport County to win at around 2.62. The logic: Stockport’s superior recent form and offensive balance away from home edge out Bradford’s home solidity, particularly because Bradford’s recent results have been patchy. If you prefer a conservative approach, consult broader market advice such as Soccer betting tips and the choice of markets and pair the pick with strict staking discipline — and remember to keep emotions in check while betting by reviewing ideas like How to have emotional control when placing bets?
Suggested stake: small to medium (depending on bankroll) — Stockport to win (1X2) at ~2.62.
