Bradford City secured a 3‑2 victory over Preston North End at the newly‑rebranded Mbanq Valley Parade, delivering an early sign of intent for the upcoming League One season. The win, coming as the Bantams prepare for a tougher division, saw goals from Will Swan, Antoni Sarcevic and Jake Beesley, while Preston replied through Callum Lang and Milutin Osmajić.
How did the match unfold?
The game opened with Bradford City pressing high, and within ten minutes Will Swan slipped a neat finish past Preston keeper Lee Nicholls after a clever pass from Antoni Sarcevic. Sarcevic added a second, curling a shot from the edge of the box after Swan’s assist. Preston fought back, with Callum Lang finding space on the right before delivering a low cross for Milutin Osmajić, who smashed a first‑time strike to make it 2‑1. The visitors equalised on 58 minutes when Andrija Vukčević’s cross met Walker, who bundled home a rebound after a defensive scramble.
Who were the key figures?
Bradford’s manager Graham Alexander, a former Preston legend, praised the squad’s resilience, noting the need to add at least three more players – a centre‑midfield, a centre‑half and a right wing‑back – before the league campaign begins. Stuart McCall, now part of the coaching staff, received a warm “Stuart, Stuart” chant from the crowd. On the pitch, Ibou Touray partnered Matt Pennington and Aden Baldwin in central defence, while Reece Welch and Aaron Lewis, trialists from recent training sessions, featured as potential signings.
What does this mean for the upcoming season?
The win comes as Bradford City sit fourth in the final 2025 League One table with 77 points, a record of 22 wins, 11 draws and 13 losses, and a recent form of W‑D‑D‑D‑L. They have scored 58 goals and conceded 51 this season, sitting seven goals clear of the opposition on average. However, they remain 26 points behind leaders Lincoln, highlighting the work still required to challenge for promotion. Alexander’s emphasis on strengthening the midfield and defence suggests a proactive transfer window, with trialists Reece Welch and Aaron Lewis already in contention.
What’s next for Bradford City?
The Bantams will return to BD8 for their next pre‑season fixture, aiming to fine‑tune the squad ahead of the league opener. With the transfer window open, the club is expected to target experienced centre‑midfielders and a versatile right wing‑back, while monitoring the progress of trialists. Fans will be watching closely as the team seeks to build on this entertaining win, hoping the momentum carries into a competitive League One campaign.
